BRITISH OAKS — THEIR SPECIES, VARIETIES, USES, AND CULTURE. 51 
agreeable to the negroes, almost without an exception ; horses, cows, dogs, cats, and 
most if not all the frait-eating birds, feed upon it ; and Europeans almost unanimously 
agree that it is delicious and nutritive. 
It was introduced to this country in 1739, but has not yet, that we are aware of, been 
fruited in any of our stoves. In the large conservatory at Chats worth, our plant grows 
vigorously, and promises in a few years to become a fine tree ; but as yet it shows no 
disposition to produce fruit. 
In cultivation, the temperature of a warm stove is requisite, with a little bottom- 
heat at the roots, and much the same kind of management as given to the Cinnamon 
[Cinnamomum veriim), to which plant in habit it bears a considerable resemblance. 
During the growing season, give a liberal supply of both heat and moisture, and especially 
keep the atmosphere humid. If the plants are grown in pots or tubs, a mixture of loam, 
peat, and well-rotted manure, is the best for them ; but if planted out in a prepared border, 
a good rich loam, without any admixture, is preferable. 
Propagation is effected by making cuttings of the half-ripened wood, and planting 
them, without mutilating the leaves, in pots of sand, and placing them under a glass 
in heat. They may also be increased by layers and abscission. 
The name Persea was used by Theophrastus for an Egyptian tree, but of what kind is 
at present unknown. 
BRITISH OAKS— THEIR SPECIES, VARIETIES, USES, AND CULTURE. 
(Continued from Page 20.) 
By Mr. C. M'Intosh, Gardener to the BuJce of Buccleuch, Dalkeith Palace. 
The Oaks under consideration are reared from seed ; the curious varieties, increased by 
inarching or grafting on the common species. The seeds or acorns should not be gathered 
off the tree, because it is inconvenient and useless, and might lead to gathering them before 
they are fully ripened ; they are best, therefore, when gathered from the ground as they 
naturally fall off. At this period of tree-cultivation, the first, and not the least, error is 
committed ; instead of allowing those totally ignorant of the business to collect the seeds 
indiscriminately, a competent person ought to be sent along with them, to point out the 
trees from which the acorns should be gathered. We all know the importance of selecting 
the best formed turnip, or cabbage, from which to save the seed, and take the necessary 
precautions accordingly ; but who amongst the nurserymen makes any inquiry as to even 
what species of Oak the acorns are gathered from ? — far less, whether from a healthy and 
well-grown specimen, or the reverse. If, to have an improved progeny, we go to some 
expense in the one case, why not in the other ? Both are surely entitled to our attention. 
I think also that acorns should only be collected in the oak-growing districts of England, 
and that no Scotch acorns should be sown, which they often are, even in seasons when 
they are only imperfectly matured ; nor those even of England, when the trees are not in 
a thriving state. 
In the formation of many of the German forests, the acorns are planted where the trees 
are intended to grow, and it is surprising how they will grow by this process. The ground 
is loosened with the spade, and the seed is committed to the soil without further ceremony. 
The best German foresters adopt a much better plan by ploughing the ground, if it is 
susceptible of such an operation, and where it is not, they trench ; while, if the ground be 
already partially occupied with trees, they loosen a space of from a foot to eighteen inches 
in diameter, and in these set the seeds. They found their practice on the course Nature 
pursues, in forming natural forests. They follow her example, and say, she is right ; and 
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