4 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
Letrer IT. 
In the court of Norton farmhouse, a manor farm to the 
northwest of the village, on the white malm, stood within 
these twenty years a broad-leaved elm, or wych hazel, which, 
though it had lost a considerable leading bough, equal to a 
moderate tree, in the great storm in the year 1703, yet, when 
felled, contained eight loads of timber ; and, being too bulky 
for a carriage, was sawn off at seven feet above the but, where 
it measured near eight feet in the diameter. This elm I men- 
tion to show to what a bulk planted elms may attain ; as this 
tree must certainly have been such from its situation. 
In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a square 
- piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly called the 
Plestor.1 In the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast 
oak, with a short squat body, and huge horizontal arms ex- 
tending almost to the extremity of the area. ‘This venerable 
tree, surrounded with stone steps, and seats above them, was 
the delight of old and young, and a place of much resort in 
summer evenings ; where the former sat in grave debate, while 
the latter frolicked and danced before them. Long might it 
have stood, had not the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned 
it at once, to the infinite regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, 
who bestowed several pounds in setting it in its place again: 
but all his care could not avail; the tree sprouted for a time, 
then withered and died. This oak I mention to show to what 
a bulk planted oaks also may arrive: and planted this tree 
must certainly have been, as will appear from what will be 
said farther concerning this area, when we enter on the 
antiquities of Selborne. 
On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called 
Losel’s, of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set of 
1 Plestor, Saxon Plegstow, means playing-place. 
