92 THE OAK. 
a considerable size. It is probably the most valuable 
wood known for ship-building, on account of its great 
durability. In South Carolina the Live-oaks are often 
hung with the graceful festoons of a beautiful moss, 
which dangles from their branches in pendent masses 
of several yards in length. 
The Cork-oak, a native of the South of Europe 
and the northern coast of Africa, is also an evergreen, 
and much resembles the Live-oak in appearance. 
That useful substance, Cork, is the bark of this tree, 
which grows to a considerable thickness; and, as 
though designed by Providence for some peculiar 
purpose, may be removed without injury to the tree, 
a new coating being rapidly formed; thus producing 
a crop of cork about every ten years. 
The Oaks of Palestine are 
also mostly evergreen. One 
species, closely resembling the 
Holly in its appearance, and 
called the Holly-leaved Oak, 
is particularly abundant; the 
scenery of the Holy Land be- 
ing often varied with its beau- 
gatas tiful form. 
As the climate of Syria is too warm for the Oak 
to flourish in the valleys, it is mostly confined to the 
more elevated positions. Groups of low shrubby Oaks — 
are scattered all over the hills of Hebron; and many 
of the evergreen varieties are found in the forests 
which cover the hills of Canaan. But the tall “ Oaks 
of Bashan,” spoken of in Scripture, are more attractive 
— ee ee ee ee bent 
