1860

ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM.

PART III.

is only about a century since the tree was introduced into this country, veryfew specimens have attained a sufficient size to be cut down for timber, andvery little experience has been obtained on the subject. One of considerabledimensions, felled, a few years ago, in a part of the Mile End Nursery whichwas given up for building on, and employed as posts and boarding in a stable,is said to have decayed with extraordinary rapidity. Mr. Atkinson, who hasmade several experiments with the wood of the common oak (see p. 1787.),wished to try some with that of Q. Cerris, but was only able to obtain onespecimen of sufficient age grown in England. This was about 1826, whentwo trees were cut down at East Hampstead, in Berkshire, a seat belongingto the Marquess of Downshire; and the wood was made into doors for theprincipal rooms of the mansion. The wood of this tree, Mr. Atkinson says, “ ismuch finer in the grain than that of our British oak, or foreign wainscot: ittakes a better polish, and is more beautiful, than any other oak that I haveever seen. From only a single specimen, which I had broken, it was not sostrong as our native oak, but equal in toughness; but my specimen beingrather cross-grained, it was not a correct experiment, and I suspect it isequal in strength to our oak. For all ornamental purposes, where thewood has to be polished, it is superior; and must be a profitable tree toplant, as it grows much quicker than our common oaks; and I have seen itthrive rapidly in poor land.” ( Hort. Trans., 2d series, vol. i. p. 338.) Onapplication to the Marquess of Downshire, in March, 1837, to ascertain thepresent opinion entertained at East Hampstead respecting the wood of theTurkey oak, we have been informed that the wood is not much inferior tothat of the English oak if kept quite in the dry; but that it will not stand inwater, or in situations where it is alternately wet and dry, so well as that spe-cies : that if the tree is allowed to grow to the ordinary age at which theBritish oak is felled, the wood is very apt to get shaky at the heart: andthat Turkey oaks require to be felled as soon as any dead twigs are seen inthe topmost boughs ; or in about 60 or 80 years after planting. Mr. Richard-son, who has witnessed the rapid growth of the Q. Cerris at Lady Tankerville’svilla at Walton on Thames, where he has been gardener for upwards of 40years, says that, in deep sandy soil, it grows much faster, and makes a tallerstraighter tree, with more timber in the trunk in comparison to what is con-tained in the branches, than either the common oak, or any other species ofthe genus. (See Gard. Mag., vol. x. p. 336.) In the Dictionnaire dcs Eauxel Forets, the wood is said to be very solid, and very good both for civil andnaval purposes ; more especially that which is grown in the south of France;which, from the warmth of the climate, is found to be harder and more durablethan that grown in the north. Bose, and also the writers of the article onQuercus in the Nouveau Du Hamel, say that the wood is preferred for ship-building in the south of France; and also that the tree attains a larger size onpoor sandy soil than the common oak. In Olivier’s Travels, it is stated thatthe wood of Q. Cerris is brought to Constantinople from the southern shoresof the Black Sea, and employed both in ship-building and in the frameworkof houses. Whatever may be the properties of the wood of the Turkey oakin the south of Europe or the Levant, the experience of it in Britain, hitherto,can hardly justify our recommending it for other purposes than those ofcabinet-making and joinery, The tree, however, is one of very great beauty,both in point of form and foliage; and, being of great rapidity of growth, it isequalled by few for ornamental plantations. The foliage of some varieties ispersistent, like that of the beech and the hornbeam : and of others, supposed,as we have seen (p. 1855.), to be hybrids, it is subevergreen, or so near beingcompletely evergreen, as to be retained on the trees till May.

Propagation and Culture. The species, and most of the varieties, ripenacorns in England, from which plants are raised with great facility; but thevarieties, like those of every other oak, being very liable to sport, can onlybe continued by grafting or by layers. The stocks employed may be eitherthose of Q. Cerris, or of the common British oak; and the grafting may be