Februaby 10. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
355 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
m' w 
FEBRUABY 10—16 1853., 
Weather near London in 1852. 
Sun 
Sun 
Moon 
Moon's 
Clock 
Day of 
D U 
Barometer. Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in In. 
Rises. 
Sets. 
R. & S. 
Age. 
bf. 
Sun. 
Year. 
10 Th 
Queen Victoria married 1840. 
30.036 —29.631 j 45—25 
N. 
02 
26 a. 7 
4 a. 5 
7 40 
2 
14 
33 
41 
U F 
Platvsoma depressus; bark. 
30.099-29.998] 44—17 
N. 
— 
24 
6 
8 51 
3 
14 
34 
42 
12 S 
Platvsoma oblongus; bark. 
29.914 — 29.664 43—25 
S. 
— 
22 
7 
10 0 
4 
14 
33 
43 
13 Sun 
I Sunday in Lent. 
29.824 — 29.584' 42—30 
S. 
— 
20 
9 
11 8 
5 
14 
32 
44 
14 M 
Valentine. 
30.206 —30.008 43—22 
S.E. 
— 
18 
1 1 
morn. 
6 
14 
29 
45 
15 T 0 
Hydrophilus caraboides; ditches. 
30.191—30.100' 49—33 
s.w. 
04 
16 
13 
U 15 
7 
14 
26 
46 
16 W 
Ember Week. 
30.176—29.777 53—43 
s.w. 
03 
24 
15 
1 23 
3 
14 
23 
47 
Meteoeology of the Week. —At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-six years, the average highest and lowest tempera¬ 
tures of these days are 45.3*^ and 31.3° respectively. The greatest heat, 65°, occurred on the lOthin 1831 ; and the lowest cold, 3°, on the 1 Uh 
in 1845. During the period 115 days were fine, and on 67 rain fell. 
THE FOREST TREES OF BRITAIN. 
Under this title, as opportunities occur, we intend to 
give portraits of such trees in the British Islands as are 
remarkable for their size, or beauty, or association with 
historical events. To aid us in this, we shall be very 
much obliged by any of our readers sending us drawings 
of such trees as they are at present existing, with par¬ 
ticulars of their dimensions, and a narrative of any 
traditions connected with them. 
THE SALCEY FOREST OAK, 
We should not act worthily, either as Englishmen or 
as lovers of the picturesque, if we did not give pre¬ 
cedence to “ the sturdy Oak — th'eternal guard of 
England’s throne ; ” and, “ confessedly, both the most 
picturesque tree in itself; and the most accommodating 
in composition." It is suited to the grandest; and may 
with propriety be introduced into the most pastoral. It 
adds new dignity to the ruined tower, and gothic arch; 
by stretching its wild, moss-grown branches athwart 
their ivyed walls, it gives them a majesty coeval with 
itself; at the same time its propriety is still preserved, 
if it throws its arms over the purling brook, or the 
mantling pool, where it beholds 
“ It. reverend image in the expanse helow.” 
Of all such forest antiques, not one is more re. 
verend than “ the Salcey Forest Oak ; ’’ and most justly 
has it been thus addressed— 
“ Thou wert a bauble once; a cup and ball, 
Which babes might play with ; and the thievish jay. 
Seeking her food, with case might have pnrloined 
The auburn nnt that held thee, swallowing down 
Thy yet close-folded latitude of boughs. 
Time was, w'hen, settling on thy leaf, afiy 
Could shake thee to the root—and time has been 
When tempests could not— 
Time made thee what thou wert—Ring of the woods— 
And Time hath made thee what thou art—a cave 
For owls to roost in ! ” 
This magnificent ruin of a tree stands in tbe Forest 
of Salcey, in Northamptonshire, between the forests of 
Rockingham to the north, and of Whittlebmy to the 
No. COXXVIII., Voi,. IX. 
