Forest Trees and Shrubs of Meriden, Conn. 53 



clined to check badly in drying. Used for shingles, clapboards, 

 construction and in cooperage. Specific gravity, 0.6938; ash, 

 0.81. 



21. QUERCUS RUBRA. (Linn.) 

 Red Oak. Black Oak. 



A very large and common tree, thirty to ninety feet high, and 

 two to four feet in diameter. Wood heavy, hard, strong, coarse- 

 grained, inclined to check in drying. It is of inferior value, but 

 is used for barrel staves, chairs, clapboards, etc. Specific gravity, 

 0.6540 ; ash, 0.26. 



:22. QUERCUS ILICIFOLIA. (Wangenheim.) 



Bear Oak. Black Scrub Oak. 



A low, dwarf shrub, three to eight feet high. Found in very 

 poor soil. This is a dwarf species of the Q. falcata, or Spanish 

 Oak. I do not know that the Spanish Oak can be found in Meri- 

 den. 



23. FAGUS FERRUGINEA. (Aiton.j VAR. F. 



SYLVATICA. (Walter.) 



American Beech. Beech Tree. 



Grows from forty to eighty feet high, with a thin, even-surfaced, 

 whitish bark. Wood very hard and firm, tough, close-grained, 

 susceptible of a very fine polish, and is next to the Hickory in 

 value for fuel. Largely used in the manufacture of chairs, shoe 

 lasts, plane-stocks, handles, etc. Is of rapid growth, but generally 

 considered short-lived. Specific gravity, 0.6883 ; ash, 0.51. 



24. CASTANEA VULGARIS. (De Candolle. ; C. 

 VESCA. VAR. AMERICANA. (Michaux.) 



Chestnut. 



A variety of the European Chestnut. One of our most valuable 

 forest trees, growing from sixty to ninety feet high, and from two 

 to four feet in diameter. The tree is of rapid growth, being speed- 

 ily reproduced by suckers from the stump. Wood light, soft, not 

 strong, coarse-grained, liable to check and warp in drying, easily 

 split. Is of a light yellowish or brown color, and is much used in 

 the manufacture of furniture, fence rails, beams and inside finish. 

 It makes very poor fuel, not worth half as much ub hickory, aii it 



