SECTION XII. 



463 



generally introduced into plantations in Scotland, are five in number : 

 First, the Evergreen Oak, Quercus ilex, already known in various 

 favourable situations, at Rotbsay, at Roseneath, at Castle Kennedy, &c. 

 Secondly, the Cork tree, Quercus suter ; Thirdly, the Kermes Oak, 

 Quercus cocci/era — both evergreens, but far inferior in magnitude to 

 the ilex. The last mentioned is the tree once so celebrated among the 

 Romans, for producing the Kermes or excrescence, of which the finest 

 scarlet colour was made, and which came to be preferred to the purple 

 of Tyre. Fourthly, the Lace or Live Oak, Quercus virens, another 

 evergreen. This species was cultivated by Miller in 1789. Among 

 other recommendations to it we are told, but not by Miller, that " the 

 sea breeze is favourable if not indispensable to its full growth." Credat 

 Judceus ! Fifthly, the Quercitron or Dyer's Oak, Quercus tinctorial 

 the only deciduous tree of the five, and of which the bark is so valuable 

 for making a yellow dye. 



According to Dr Yule's own account, none of these trees are of much 

 value, unless we except the Quercitron, for which reason they must be 

 considered as ornamental only. Had they come from Canada or Nova 

 Scotia, instead of Languedoc, Spain, and South America, I should have 

 had a better opinion of them for general use. However, Dr Yule is 

 entitled to the warmest thanks of all lovers of trees for his ingenious 

 researches, and for recommending that patient experiments be made. 

 It is by means of such trials only, that we may hope to add to our 

 present stock of plants. In fact, some of the most beautiful forest- 

 trees now naturalised, and assimilated to the climate, were once 

 imported from other countries — for example, the English Elm and 

 Horse Chestnut. 



Note IV. Page 298. 



Evelyn says, the two kinds of Oak frequent with us are the Quercus 

 iirhana^ i. e. the stalk-fruited Oak which grows more upright, and, 

 being clean and lighter, is fittest for timber ; and the Robur or Quercus 

 Silmstris^ taking Robur for the general name, if, at least, contradistinct 

 from the rest, which, as the name imports, is of a vast, robust, and 

 inflexible nature ; of an hard black grain ; bearing a smaller acorn, 

 and affecting to spread in branches, and to put forth his roots more 

 above ground. — Vol. i. pp. 70, 71. That is to say, the upright not being 

 " cleaner and lighter in the stem," is more fit for being cut up into 

 planks ; as a long plank is always better than a short one. But, as to 

 " robustness,'' that is strength, as to " inflexibility and hardiness of 

 grain," that is toughness and closeness, the spreading oak is decidedly 

 to be preferred. I believe there is no carpenter in the kingdom who 



