60 



THE OAK, 



is found in either of tlie species, the other pos- 

 sesses in a somewhat greater or less degree, and 

 there is a little doubt that both will long continue 

 to be applied indifterently to purposes where 

 solidity, strength, and durability are required. 



But the Oak besrins to be valuable lono' before 

 it has attained such a size as renders it fit for 

 ship and house building. The ground Oak, 

 while young, is used for poles, cudgels, and walk- 

 ing-staffs, much come into mode of late, but to 

 the waste of many a hopeful plant which might 

 have proved good timber ; and I the rather de- 

 claim against the custom, because I suspect they 

 are such as are for the most part cut and stolen 

 by idle persons, and brought up to London in 

 great bundles, without the knowledge or leave of 

 the owners, who would never have gleaned their 

 copses for such trifling uses.'*'* 



According to Loudon, the proper age at which 

 Oak copse should be cut do^vn varies from ^'fif- 

 teen to thirty years : the rule being, that the 

 principal stems of the plants, at one foot from the 

 ground, should not be less than six inches in dia- 

 meter. In favourable soils in the south and west 

 of England, this size will be obtained in from 

 twelve to fifteen years ; but in the colder climate, 

 and in the inferior soil of the Highlands of Scot- 

 land, from twenty-five to thirty years are required. 

 The cutting over of copse is performed at the 

 same season as that in which full-grown trees are 

 felled, when in both cases the bark is an object 

 as well as tlie timber." The very stump of an 

 Oak,"' says Evelyn, especially that part which 

 is dry and above ground, being well-grubbed, is 



* Evelyn. 



