REV. M. C. H. BIRD ON ACORNS. 
329 
Abortion seems to be characteristic of the Oak, the dis- 
tinctive zigzag appearance of its branches being mainly due 
to the frequent suppression of the terminal bud ; and the 
astringent properties of acorns are supposed to cause abortion 
in cattle. Instances of this were mentioned in the “ E.D.P." 
for Nov. 4th ult. 
In consequence of the abnormal weight of fruit then nearly 
ripe, Oaks suffered far more than any other trees from the 
gales of Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st, and, judging from all accounts, 
driving home from Norwich on the Saturday night must 
have been distincly dangerous by reason of the many falling 
and fallen branches on the roads. Generally speaking, the 
effect of the wind on the broken trees was remarkable, 
although the extent of the damage was not fully apparent 
until after the autumnal fall of the leaf, when it was observ- 
able that quite contrary to what is usually the case, the 
crowns of the trees suffered most, the more erect central 
branches in many instances being broken oh, whilst the outer 
and less upright boughs, even on the windward side of the 
trees, escaped without injury. There were few Oaks, however, 
in our district but what received some damage. Mr. E. R. 
Cubitt wrote me as follows from Honing Hall : — “ On the 
park here, which is about 60 acres, it cost us roughly ,£15 to 
clear up. We practically lost two trees worth about ,£6 or 
£7 each, the loss being due to their being blown in halves 
and badly splintered. The chief damage to my mind is that 
caused to the landscape beauty of the place, owing to the 
fact of nearly every tree being more or less damaged. The 
majority of these Oaks are, I consider, mature, and will thus 
make very little if any fresh growth to compensate for the 
loss of limbs.” 
The excessive splintering to which Mr. Cubitt refers, and 
which was a noticeable feature in the wreckage caused by 
these storms, was doubtless due to the high wind acting upon 
