CHAP. CV.

CORYI.A'CEiE. QUe'rCUS,

1903

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flexibility, even when dry. Du Hamel observes that the great weight ofthis wood ought not to be considered a defect, even in the construction ofvessels; because, if it is employed in the bottoms, it will serve instead ofballast; and, if it is employed on the upper parts, as it is much stronger thanthe common oak, it may be used of small dimensions. He recommends usingit in preference to that of every other species of oak, wherever it can be ob-tained of sufficient size; more especially in cases where it has to resist friction.Evelyn says the wood of the ilex is serviceable for many uses; particularlyfor handles to tools, mallet heads, mall-balls, chairs, axletrees, wedges, beetles,pins, and palisadoes in fortifications. It supplies almost all Spain with thebest and most lasting charcoal. Bradley and others recommend the wood forknee-timber for ships; and it has been strongly recommended for all thesepurposes, in a pamphlet by Isaac Weld, Esq. (See Gard. Mag., vol. vi.p. 580.) Boutcher recommends the tree for making warm and lofty hedges,40 ft. or 50 ft. high, in a short time; but he does not approve of planting themnear a house, on account of the litter made by the leaves, when theseare dropped in April and May. In Cornwall, Q. /'lex is considered preferableto every species of the genus for planting near the sea coast, either as anornamental tree there, or for sheltering plantations of the common, or of themossy-cupped, oak. The ilex has been strongly recommended for both thesepurposes by Mr. Rutger (see Gard. Mag., vol. ix. p. 544.), who refers to St.Michael’s Mount (Jig. 1782.), which was planted with pinasters, and clothedwith those trees for about 30 years, when they all began to decline ; and, at40 years from the time they were planted, there was scarcely a vestige of themleft. About this time, plants of Q. /'lex were substituted for the pines;and these, which have now been planted about seven years, make a very fineappearance. In Spain, Captain S. E. Cook informs us, the encinas, orevergreen oaks, produce the best timber in the southern and middle regionsof the Peninsula; but it is, he says, heavy, and unfit for most uses. “ It isnow, unfortunately, the only fire-wood in most parts of Castile, which is hourlydiminishing the scanty stock that yet remains. The mode of cutting increasesthe evil; the practice of the peasantry being almost invariably to level thewhole tract which they attack. The consequence is, that there is a tolerablyvigorous spring from the stocks. This is soon cut, when a more feeble spring

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