44 
TIMBER AND TIMBER TREES. [chap. 
it; but, while coinciding generally in this opinion, I 
feel bound to admit that, during a long experience in 
working them, I have not been able to discover any 
important difference between the two varieties. 
We find, indeed, the wood of the two species so 
closely resembling each other, that few surveyors are 
able to speak positively as to the identity of either. It 
is only by tracing the log from the first fall of the tree 
to the hands of the converter that we are able to say 
that the timber of the sessiliflora is a little less dense 
and compact in texture than that of the pedunculate/,. 
The Durmas_t Oak is only sparingly met with, and 
is of very inferior quality. Preference should therefore 
be given in all works of importance to the two species 
before mentioned ; and in this there will be no difficulty, 
as they are easily obtainable. 
It is fortunate that the Quercus Robur pedunculate /, 
which is believed to produce the best timber, is to be 
found in greater abundance than the sessiliflora ; and 
it is greatly to be desired that in any future planting, 
care should be taken to perpetuate it, although as a 
commercial speculation the sessiliflora would probably 
yield the best return, as it generally attains a greater 
length of clear stem. 
Very fine specimens of these long, clear stems of 
the sessiliflora species are to be met with in abundance 
in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, where, upon 
a rocky subsoil, the Oak trees generally attain noble 
dimensions, with, however, this drawback—they are 
liable to the cup and the star-shake. Whether this is 
caused by the rocky nature of the soil, combined with 
the swaying to and fro of these tall trees by strong 
winds, or whether it is in some degree peculiar to the 
species, is not easily determined. I incline, however, 
