150 
ON FOREST TREES. 
ground) loses half its effect^: it does not appear as the lord of the soil, 
but to be stuck into it; and would have a still worse effect on canvas, 
than it has in nature. * * * / 
Among deciduous trees, the oak presents itself first. It is a hap¬ 
piness to the lovers of the picturesque, that this noble plant is as 
useful as it is beautiful. From the utility of the oak, they derive this 
advantage, that it is every where found. In the choice indeed of its 
soil, it is rather delicate; for though it’is rather undistinguishing, du¬ 
ring its early growth, while its horizontal fibres straggle about the 
surface of the earth; yet when its. top root begins to enter the depths 
of the soil, perhaps no tree is nicer in its discriminations. If its 
constitution be not suited here, it may multiply its progeny in¬ 
deed, and produce a thriving copse ; but the puny race will never 
rise to lordly dignity in the forest, nor furnish navies to command 
the ocean. 
The particular, and most valued qualities of the oak, are hardiness 
and toughness. Shakespeare uses two epithets to express these quali¬ 
ties, which are perhaps stronger than any. that we can find. 
‘ Thou rather with thy sharp and sulphurous bolt 
Split’st the umvedgeable and gnarled oak, 
Than the soft myrtle’” 
Many kinds of wood are harder, as box and ebony; many kinds 
are tougher, as yew and ash: but it is supposed that no species of 
timber is possessed of both these qualities together, in so great a 
degree as British oak. Almost all arts and manufactures are in¬ 
debted to it; but in ship-building, and bearing burdens, its elasticity 
and strength are applied to most advantage. I mention these me¬ 
chanic uses only, because some of its chief beauties are connected 
with them. Thus, it is not the erect stately tree that is always the 
most useful in ship-building; but more often the crooked one, form¬ 
ing short turns and elbows, which the shipwrights and carpenters 
call knee-timber. This too is generally the most picturesque. Nor 
is it the straight tall stem, whose fibres run in parallel lines, that is 
the most useful in bearing burdens ; but that whose sinews are twist¬ 
ed and spirally combined. This too is the most picturesque. Trees 
under these circumstances, generally take the most pleasing forms. 
Now the oak perhaps acquires these different modes of growth from 
the different strata through which it passes. In deep rich soils, 
where the ro'ot meets no obstruction, the stem, we suppose, grows 
stately and erect; but when the root meets with a rocky stratum, a 
hard and gravelly bed, or any other difficulty, through which it is 
obliged in a zigzag course to pick its way, and struggle for a passage. 
