Missouri Botanical 
Garden Bulletin 
Vol. XII FEBRUARY, 1924 No. 2 
LOCAL OAKS AND THEIR USES 
Oaks are mentioned in the earliest histories. We are told 
that Absalom was caught by his hair in ‘‘the thick branches 
of a great oak’’; and Herodotus informs us that ‘‘the first 
oracle was that of Dodona, set up in the celebrated oak grove 
of that name. There, at first, the oracles were delivered by 
priestesses, but, as was afterwards believed, by the inspired 
oaks themselves.’’ The civic crown, given in the palmy days 
of Rome to the most celebrated men, was composed of oak 
leaves. The oak was the symbol of Baal or Yiaoul (whence 
Yule), the god of fire, and at his festival, which was at Christ- 
mas, the ceremony of kindling the Yule log was performed 
by the Druids. This fire was kept burning throughout the 
year, and the hearths of all the people were annually lighted 
from these sacred fires every Christmas. The curious custom 
of kindling the Yule log with much rejoicing at Christmas 
time is supposed to be still extant in some parts of England. 
Acorns, the fruit of the oak, appear to have been held in 
considerable estimation as an article of food among the an- 
cients, as well as among the aborigines of the New World. 
Not only were the swine fattened upon them, as in our own 
forests, but they were ground into flour with which bread was 
made by the poorer classes. 
The Arcadians believed the oak to have been the first cre- 
ated of all trees; and when we consider its great utility and 
beauty we are disposed to give it first rank among forest 
trees. The wood of the oak has, since ancient times, held a pre- 
eminent place in house-, ship-, and bridge-building, because 
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