GROWING GOLD. 147 



to be obtained by growing the common 

 British oak. 



The suggestions of the importance of this 

 subject will perhaps cause landowners to as- 

 certain the age of the fastest groiving trees 

 on their estates ; these will corroborate the 

 opinions here given. 



There are very few estates which have 

 not some proof of the suitableness of the soil 

 for the growth of oak to perfection ; some 

 have been observed growing on blowing sands, 

 which were remarkably healthy. Every seller 

 of shipping appears by his advertisements to 

 be glad to avail himself of the words ''built 

 OF BRITISH OAK." A fasliiou lias prevailed 

 of collecting old oak furniture, the dates on 

 much of it are carved ; I am now sitting on a 

 chair that once was part of the then modern 

 furniture of Kirtling Hall ; this was the resi- 

 dence of the Lord North who was one of the 

 executors of Henry VIH. and who was visited 

 by Queen Elizabeth, before she came to the 



