DENDROLOGY. 287 



and sometimes abundant, they are sought with avidity by wild 

 and domesticated animals. 



The wood, which is affected by the richness of the soil, is 

 inferior to that of the post oak, the white oak and even that of 

 the over-cup oak ; and its pores, though nearly obliterated, are 

 more open. But it is superior to many other species, and is 

 employed for wheelwrights' works and- for other objects which 

 require strength and durability. As it splits in a straight line, 

 and may be divided into fine shreds it is chosen by the Negroes 

 for baskets and brooms. Its pores are too open to contain wine 

 or spirituous liquors. In the form of rails it lasts twelve or fifteen 

 years, or a third longer than the willow oak. It is highly 

 esteemed as fuel. 



Running Oak. Quercus jmmilcu 



This species is the smallest oak hitherto discovered in the 

 known world. Like the upland willow oak, jt is confined to the 

 maritime parts of the Carolinas, Georgia and the Floridas, where 

 it is called Running Oak. It springs with that species in the 

 pine-barrens, amidst the numerous varieties of whortleberrv and 

 other plants which overspread the ground wherever there is a 

 little moisture in the soil and the layer of vegetable mould is a 

 few inches thick. 



The running oak rarely rises more than 20 inches in height 

 and 2 lines in diameter. The leaves are of a reddish tint 

 in the spring, and turn green as the season advances. When 

 fully developed they are entire, smooth, of an elongated, oval 

 shape, and about two inches in length. It fructifies once in two 

 years and flowers in the month of May. The acorns are small, 

 round and similar to those of the willow and water oaks ; they 

 are few in number, and seldom arrive at maturity. No particular 

 use is made of this shrub either in the mechanic arts or for 

 medicine. 



