♦ 



302 



THE PLANTER^ GUIDE. 



in those situations where they will thrive best, and make 

 the best return to the planter. As it is, the upright Oak 

 is a scarce plant, and, I may venture to affirm, not as yet 

 known to the British public. 



This valuable tree abounds most in ancient forests. 

 It is found in many places on the shores of Loch- 

 lomond, and the Cumberland and Westmoreland lakes ; 

 on the steep banks of the Clyde, the Lanarkshire 

 Avon, the Tay, the Tees, the Wye, and other rivers, 

 Scotch and English. In a word, it seems to be more or 

 less the tenant of every British woodland not planted by 

 the hand of man. This fact would incline us to believe 

 that although, from neglect or accident, it has now become 

 the rarer of our two native species, it was far from being 

 so in ancient times. Its varieties, therefore, seem fairly 

 entitled to the appellation which I have ventm^ed to give 

 them. 



It is certain that the spreading Oak is the freest grower 

 of the Oak family, as well as the hardiest ; of which last 

 quahty no better proof needs be given than the one 

 already mentioned — ^the patience with which it bears, and 

 the facility with which it recovers from the operation of 

 transplanting in a full-grown state. Were the Oaks of 

 many of our plantations of this hardy species only, it is 

 certain that extensive tracts of ground both in England 

 and Scotland, where that most useful of trees is found to 

 languish, would yield, if not stately timber, at least 

 vigorous copse-woods, which would speedily repay, by 

 means of their bark, the entire expense laid out upon 

 them. Besides, the Oak could be thus raised in elevations 

 where the most adventurous planters would not now think 

 of risking them as objects of profit. 



That the same deficiency of the aboriginal kinds pre- 

 vails in most of the late planted woods in England, I 



