17 
the twelve being 9 feet 2 inches. As to other trees of which 
something is known, we have 
Cowper’s Oak, above 1500 years old, according to Loudon, 
circumference 47 feet. 
Cowthorpe Oak, 1G00 years old, „ 48 feet. 
Nannau Oak, hollow in Henry IV’s reign, fell in 1818. 
Leaden Oak, marked as “ too old for naval timber, in 
Cromwell’s time, circumference 30 ft. G in. 
King Oak, (Windsor) 1000 years, according to Loudon. 
“ A favourite tree with the Conqueror.” circumference 2G ft. 
Flitton Oak, 1000 years, according to Loudon, ,, 33 ft. 
Sw Hear Lawn Oak, 1000 years, “known by historical 
documents’ to have been a large tree GOO years ago, 21 ft. 4 in. 
circumference in 1830, and 54 years before, at same 
height, only 19 feet. 
Bentley Oak, blown down in 1781. In 1759 it was 34 feet, 
and 20 years afterwards had only increased 1 inch. 
The above list is worth attention, as showing the slight con- 
nection which may exist between age and size. Thus the Swilcar 
Oak had increased 2 feet 4 inches in circumference in 54 years, 
while in exactly the same time our friend above us has remained 
unchanged. The Bentley Oak increased but one inch in 20 years, 
and the St. Edmund’s Oak had only 18 feet of circumference to 
show for his 1000 or 1100 years of life. 
Let me hope, if we ever meet again at Winfarthing, we shall 
find the “Old Oak,” — I was going to say, restored, but a late 
pleasant trip with a party of Archaeologists has left an impression 
upon me that the word “ restoration” may mean mischief, so I 
will only say, cleared of its evil surroundings. 
,1 must not close this paper without a word about the magnificent 
and picturesque ruin of an ancient oak which stands in an adjoin- 
ing meadow. It is well situated for observation, and is probably 
but little younger than the one under which we are standing. It 
is, however, going rather rapidly to decay, and I observe a marked 
difference for the worse in its condition, particularly in the death 
of a branch to the north, since 1 visited it 26 years ago. Last 
year (July, 1873) 1 measured it, and found its circumference two 
feet from the ground to be 30 feet, and its height 37 feet. 
C 
