428 The Book of Woodcraft 



than water, and sinks at once. It is much like the chest- 

 nut oak but its leaves are narrower, more sharply saw-edged 

 and its acorns much smaller, about half the size. Its 

 acorns ripen in one season. Leaves 4 to 6 inches long. 

 La. to Iowa and easterly to Mass. 



Red Oak (Quercus rubra) 



A fine forest tree, 70 to 80, or even 140, feet high. Wood 

 reddish brown. Sapwood darker. Hard, strong, coarse- 

 grained, heavy. A cubic foot weighs 41 lbs. It checks, 

 warps, and does not stand for weather or ground work. 



The acorn takes two seasons to ripen. Apparently 

 all those oaks whose nuts take two seasons to ripen 

 have wood that soon rots. The low flat shape of the 

 cup is distinctive; in fact it has no cup, it has a saucer; 

 leaves 4 to 8 inches long. Mo. to Minn. . and east to 

 Atlantic. 



Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea) 



Seventy to 80 or even 160 feet high. Scarlet from its 

 spring and autumn foHage color. The leaves are a little 



