OF FOREST-TREES. 



97 



grained timber, of all other the most useful for the joiner; but that CHAP. III. 



which grows in gravel is subject to be frow, as they term it, and brittle. "^^"^^^ 



What improvement the stirring of the ground about the roots of Oaks 



is to the trees, I have already hinted ; and yet in copses, where they 



stand warm, and so thickened with under-wood, as this culture cannot 



be practised, they prove in time to be goodly trees, I have of late tried 



the grafiing of Oaks, but as yet with slender success. Ruellius indeed 



affirms it will take the Pear and other fruit ; and if we may credit the 



poet, 



A urea durse 



Mala ferant Quercus. ECL. viii. 



The sturdy Oak does golden Apples bear. 



Glandemque sues fregere sub ulmis. georg. ii. 



And greedy swine from grafted Elms are fed. 

 With falling acorns that on Oaks are bred. 



Which last I conceive to be the more probable ; for that the sap of 

 the Oak is of an unkind tincture to most trees : but for this improve- 

 ment, I would rather advise inoculation, as the ordinary Elm upon the 

 Witch-Hasel, for those large leaves we shall anon mention, and which 

 are so familiar in France. 



6. That the transplanting of young Oaks gains them ten years 

 advance, some happy persons have affirmed. From this belief, if 

 in a former impression I have desired to be excused, and produced my 

 reasons for it, I shall not persist against any sober man's experience ; 

 and therefore leave this article to their choice, since, as the butcher's 

 phrase is, change of pasture makes fat calves ; and so transplantations 

 of these hard- wood trees, when young, may possibly, by a happy hand, 

 in fit season, and other circumstances of soil, sun, and room for growth, 

 be an improvement. But as for those who advise us to plant Oaks 

 of too great a stature, they hardly make any considerable progress 

 in an age; and therefore I cannot encourage it, unless the ground 

 be extraordinarily qualified, or that the Oak you would transplant 

 be not above six or seven feet in height ; yet if any be desirous 

 to make trial of it, let their stems be of the smoothest and tenderest 

 Volume I. U 



