CHAP. CV.

coryla'ceje. que'rcus.

1727

lobed or notched, while those of the mature tree are entire; and the contrary.The greatest variations in point of form are, perhaps, to be found in indivi-duals of the group Nigras ; and the greatest in point of colour, in the groupRubrae. As a painter’s tree, valued for its picturesque effect, when near theeye, no species equals the Q. pedunculata; but for general effect, at a dis-tance, at least in America, the American oaks, the leaves of which die offof a deep red or fine scarlet in autumn, exceed all others. As a botanist’stree, perhaps Q. Cerris is the most interesting European species, from thevery great variety of forms which its leaves assume; and from their being, insome varieties, persistent in a dried or withered state; and in others, remainingon green throughout the winter. The dwarf oaks, both of Europe andAmerica, are curious miniature trees or shrubs. Q. I ' lex has many interestingassociations connected with it; and Q. AS'gilops, from its remarkable foliageand calycanthus-like cups, is a most singular and beautiful tree. For thepurposes of naval or civil construction and tanning, no species is at all tobe compared with those belonging to the group Pobur.

Comparing the forms and outlines of oaks with the forms and outlines ofother trees, we shall find that they have greatly the advantage in point ofcharacter and variety. The forms of all the pine and fir tribe, more especiallybefore they begin to decay, are monotonous; and the same may be said evenof the forms of the cypress, the Lombardy poplar, and the weeping willow.If we imagine ourselves in a forest of pines, firs, Lombardy poplars, orweeping willows, it is easy to conceive the melancholy impression that thescenery would produce on us ; and hence, perhaps, the suitableness of these,and other uniform regular-headed trees, for cemeteries. But let us imagineourselves in a forest of oaks, either of one kind, or of several kinds; andhow different will be the ideas that will arise in our minds, and the effectthat will be produced on our spirits! Oaks, then, not only stand alone inregard to the form of their leaves, and that of their fruit, but even, in a greatmeasure, as to their general shape.

Soil, Situation, and Climate. The oaks, both of Europe and America, to attaintheir full size, require a deep loamy soil, a situation low rather than elevatedand a climate not liable to late spring frosts. It is remarkable that, even incountries where the oak is indigenous, both its blossoms and young leaves arefrequently injured by the frosts of spring. The oaks which flourish on theworst soils are the low-growing kinds belonging to the section /'lex, andsome of the American oaks, especially those belonging to the group Phellos ;and those which require the best soil are, the Q. sessiliflora, the Q. Cerris,and most of the sorts composing the American group Rubrae. In elevatedsituations, or in the extreme north, those species which under favourablecircumstances form the most magnificent trees become, as in the case of everyother tree, mere shrubs.

Propagation and Culture, Transport of Acorns, $c. The oak is propagatedwith difficulty by every other mode except from seed; and, generally, time willbe gained when the acorns are sown where the plants are intended finally toremain. It is only, therefore, when peculiar varieties are to be continued, thatthe process of grafting is resorted to ; and the mode by approach is almost theonly one that is certain of being attended with success. There are instances,however, of whip-grafting succeeding with some species ; as, for example, withQ. .Suber, Q. Cerris, and Q. C. Lucombedno. (See Gard. Mag., vol. xii.p. 698.) When any of the common methods of grafting is adopted, by farthe best stock is Q. Cerris ; on which, also, many of the sorts may be suc-cessfully budded; a practice which, we are informed by M. Rosenthal, isgeneral in the Vienna nurseries.

As the mode of raising oaks from the acorn is the same in all the species,we shall here, once for all, give what we consider the necessary details. Theacorns need not be gathered from the tree, but may be collected from theground immediately after they have dropped ; and, as in the case of other treeseeds, they may be either sown then, or kept till the following spring. If they

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