TRUE WOODS 257 
leads to its use for piling, wet cooperage, and railway ties. 
The great beauty of the wood, especially on radial section 
as shown in “‘quarter-sawing,’’ and its susceptibility of fine 
polish combined with its other valuable qualities make oak 
Fic. 239.—Transverse section of plum 
wood, ?.  (Hartig.) 
Fic. 242.—Red Oak (Quercus 
rubra, Beech Family, 
Fagacee). Flowering and 
fruiting branch, 3. At the 
Fic. 240.—Transverse section of birch base of the leaf is a pis- 
wood, ?. (Hartig.) tillate flower. (Britton 
and Brown.)—Tree grow- 
ing 40 m. tall; bark dark 
gray; leaves dull green; 
flowers greenish yellow; 
fruit reddish, requiring 
two years to ripen. Na- 
tive home, Eastern 
North America. 
Fic. 241.—Transverse section of beech 
wood, #%. (Hartig.) { 
one of the most highly valued woods for furniture and in- 
terior finish, and even for turnery and carving in spite of 
its coarse texture. Many species afford timber. 
Chestnut (Figs. 24-26) though of less value than oak where 
much strength is required and of inferior beauty, is, on ac- 
