Page:Timber and Timber Trees, Native and Foreign.djvu/64

44 it; but, while coinciding generally in this opinion, I feel bound to admit that, during a long experience in working them, I have not been able to discover any important difference between the two varieties.

We find, indeed, the wood of the two species so closely resembling each other, that few surveyors are able to speak positively as to the identity of either. It is only by tracing the log from the first fall of the tree to the hands of the converter that we are able to say that the timber of the sessiliflora is a little less dense and compact in texture than that of the pedunculata.

The Durmast Oak is only sparingly met with, and is of very inferior quality. Preference should therefore be given in all works of importance to the two species before mentioned; and in this there will be no difficulty, as they are easily obtainable.

It is fortunate that the Quercus Robur pedunculata, which is believed to produce the best timber, is to be found in greater abundance than the sessiliflora; and it is greatly to be desired that in any future planting, care should be taken to perpetuate it, although as a commercial speculation the sessiliflora would probably yield the best return, as it generally attains a greater length of clear stem.

Very fine specimens of these long, clear stems of the sessiliflora species are to be met with in abundance in the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, where, upon a rocky subsoil, the Oak trees generally attain noble dimensions, with, however, this drawback—they are liable to the cup and the star-shake. Whether this is caused by the rocky nature of the soil, combined with the swaying to and fro of these tall trees by strong winds, or whether it is in some degree peculiar to the species, is not easily determined. I incline, however,