THE ANNUAL MEETING. Ill 



tree planter is a worthy one. The time has already come when many of U8 are 

 glad to find samples of many species and varieties to learn of their fitness for 

 our climate. At the Agricultural College we are growing about two hundred 

 and seventy-five or three hundred of the hardiest species and varieties of trees 

 and shrubs. We shall increase the list. Many have been tried aud found 

 wanting, owing to our severe winters. 



"The oak is peculiarly subject to attacks of insects, which cause a great 

 many varieties of galls; some kind being found on almost every part of the 

 tree." Some are hard aud solid, others light and an inch and a half or more 

 iu diameter. "The most important is that known in commerce as the 

 gall-nut," and used in large quantities for inks, dyeing, and the preparation of 

 tannin and of gallic acids. 



"Oak corn, that is, ac-cern, or acorns, some centuries ago, formed an 

 important food, both for man and beast." In remote times, acorns in Spain 

 were brought to table to eat, and in some cases they were ground for meal. 

 "In Asia Minor, acorns are still sold as food." In several States of Northern 

 Africa acorns are now used as food. Pelasgus taught the Greeks to eat acorns, 

 as well as to build huts. Many of us still remember the great value of acorns 

 to fatten swine when the country was new. 



"In Europe, the stag, the roe-buck, and the wild boar winter upon acorns. 

 In Asia, pheasants and the wood-pigeon share it with animals of the deer kind. 

 In our own native forests, the bear, the raccoon, the squirrel, the wild pigeon, 

 and the wild turkey delight in various kinds of acorns." 



"In England, the tree was once only prized for the acorns which were the 

 chief support of large herds of swine. Woods were valued according to the 

 number of hogs they could fatten." 



"The bark, leaves, and fruit, abound in astringent matter, and in tannin." 

 "The bark of one or more species furnishes a yellow dye much used in dyeing 

 wool and silk." The value of oak bark for tanning leather is well understood. 

 The cork oak (Quercus suber) grows in Southern Europe aud Northern 

 Africa, and is the only tree which produces cork in sufficient quantity for 

 commerce. Cork is used for a great variety of purposes. It is supposed by 

 some to be a modern idea to use cork in the soles of shoes, but the Roman 

 women lined their shoes with it more than 2,000 years ago. Cork is taken 

 from trees every eight or ten years after they are fifteen or twenty years old. 

 Care is taken not to injure the inner bark, which would endanger the health 

 of the tree. 



"The great value of the oak, in all countries, is for its wood. It is applied 

 to a greater variety of important purposes than that of any other tree." 

 "The wood of most species of oaks is comparatively with that of other trees, 

 hard, compact, heavy, tough, and durable." It is the most valuable for many 

 parts of heavy wagons, carriages, plows, and other kinds of machinery, for 

 railroad ties, fence posts and rails, piles, bridges, baskets, etc., etc. It is 

 highly ornamental for cabinet ware and for finishing the interior of houses. 

 The wood of several species of oaks is almost indispensable for ship-building. 

 "The wood of white oak unites the properties of hardness, toughness, and 

 durability, in a greater degree than any other native wood. It is very heavy, 

 compact, and close-grained." The silver grain, when shown by being prop- 

 erly cut, makes the wood very ornamental. 



The white oak tree roots deep and sends out few side roots near the surface. 

 The leaves on young trees remain all winter, till the buds start in spring. On 

 account of their deep roots, and the peculiarity of holding their leaves, many 



