LgJ 
they employ it ii; a method by no means proper to make eh fufficiently diftinuithed frotd 
one another, as the wood of different oaks is commonly much alike and fit for the fame pur- 
pofes, though perhaps the ftruéture of the grain may receive {ome alteration by the foil it 
grew in. cz 
But what has moft contributed to multiply the fpecies of oaks is, the great variety of diffe- 
rent-fhaped leaves fome of thefe trees are apt to {port into; which, that they fhould be all . 
produced from one and the fame tree, feems incredible to thofe who have only feen the dried 
{pecimens fent from America. e 
The black oak is one inftance of it, whofe fenves are fometimes a foot broad, whilft others 
on the fame tree aré not three iriches broad, and of very different fhapes. Notwithftanding this 
great variety of appearances of American oaks, above the number of eleven or twelve {fpecies 
were not apparent to me, till by the indefatigable fearches of Dr. Mircuet, four or five more 
by him have been difcovered in tlie remote and urifrequented parts of our colonies. . Why may 
not the variety of leaves in this and fome other trees; as well as fome kinds of herbaceous 
plants, proceed from the like caufe, of impregnating other trees of the fame genus, which by | 
deviating from the uniform courfe of nature produce in like mariner a fpurious breed? 
Acorfis of all kirids will not endure to be kept long out of the ground, wherefore 4 quick — 
paflage conduces not a little to their prefervation. So foon as they are gathered let them be 
fent in a box of fandy moift earth, and fown fo foon as they arrive. 
N. B. Though there is a general refemblance in the fhape, as well as fize; of acorns of the 
fame fpecies in moft oak, yet their diftin@ion is not to be determined thereby, becaufe 
fome acorns fport into the various fhapes of other fpecies, as has been before obferved of | 
their leaves. 
S. Quercus folio non ferrato, in _fummitate guafi triangulo. 
The Water Oak. 
-This tree grows no where but in low waterifh lands: the timber is not durable, and there- 
fore of little ufe, except for fencing in of fields. Its acorns in fhape are not unlike the olive; 
they are {mall and bitter, and even the hogs refufe them, if any other food is to be found. In - 
mild winters it retains the greateft part of its leaves. 
Cc ; 6. Quercts 
