OAKS AT ALDENHAM. 



159 



enable me to give at first hand a useful account of the appearance or 

 characteristics of this species — indeed, if I were not better acquainted 

 with others of the genus than I am with this, this paper would not 

 have been written, and assuredly would not have been worth reading. 

 It is unlucky for me that it should take so prominent a place in 

 alphabetical precedence. 



It is a deciduous tree found in Greece, the Levant, and the Medi- 

 terranean region. The acorns, which are edible and rich in tannin, 

 are exceptionally large. According to Loudon, it was introduced 

 into this country as far back as 1731, but has never become common, 

 and Mr. Elwes mentions no tree which he had seen that had attained 

 50 ft. The only specimens with which I am familiar are those at 

 Tortworth and Kew ; the former is about sixty years old, and certainly 

 under that height. I carefully examined this specimen in April last, 

 and it showed a good deal of dead wood, and did not suggest a super- 

 abundance of vigour. The Kew plant is from 25 to 30 ft. high, but 

 has never yet borne acorns. I doubt very much if our Hertfordshire 

 climate will prove warm enough for it ever to make a pronounced 

 success, but in arboriculture I adopt St. Paul's precept, " Prove 

 all things," and, as far as I can, the conclusion of the same sentence, 

 "Hold fast that which is good." 



Q. agrifolia (Nee). — This oak, like Q. acuta above mentioned, 

 is not often likely to prove more than an evergreen shrub in this 

 country. It is a native of California, and, owing to the fact that 

 it affects the sea-coast, was the first Western American oak to be 

 brought to England, an event which occurred in 1849. It is one of 

 the holly-leaved set of oaks, of which the European Q. cocci/era is 

 to my mind a more attractive example. It is common enough in 

 its own habitat, but very rare here ; indeed, twelve months ago it 

 was not represented at Aldenham. Recently, however, I have had 

 to thank Lord Ducie for a plant 5 ft. 6 in. high, with a single stem, 

 which looks as if with care it might in time make a fair tree. I am 

 also indebted to Sir David Prain, the able Director of our national 

 collection, for two smaller ones of a more bushy type, which are 

 2 ft. 6 in. and 2 ft. high respective^. 



It is not, however, only to the present Director of Kew or to those 

 of Edinburgh and Glasnevin that I have cause for gratitude, though 

 that cause is great, but long ago, when I was but a beginner, and had 

 nothing to offer or give in exchange, 1 used to receive help, encourage- 

 ment, and gifts in the shape of surplus plants, unobtainable in 

 commerce, from Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, and he did not 

 hesitate to give up some of his valuable time for the purpose of escort- 

 ing me about the Kew grounds, a source of the greatest pleasure 

 and profit to me. I hope these lines may meet his eye, as he will then 

 realize that with me at any rate gratitude is not merely what it has 

 been cynically described as "A lively expectation of favours to come." 

 Nowadays, and for a fair number of years, I have accumulated from 

 various sources so many rare young plants that I feel pride in my 



