CUPULIFER^ 



SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. 



53 



The bark, which is rich in tannin and is considered more valuable than that of other American 

 White Oaks, is consumed in large quantities for tanning leather.^ 



Quercus Prinus was one of the first American Oaks known to Europeans. Mentioned by Eay in 



U 



1688 in the Historia Plantavura^ it was first figured and described by Plukenet in his Phytograpltkt 

 three years later^ and^ according to Aiton/ was cultivated in EngHsh gardens in 1730. 



Few of the Oaks of eastern America surpass this species in the beauty of strength and vigor ; it 

 often grows to a venerable age^^ and^ always an interesting and handsome object^ is perha])8 most attractive 

 in the hazy light of a warm autumn day, when the sunlight, flickering through the branches, illumines 



its dusky stem and yellow leaves. 



1 Trimble, The Tannins, ii. 15, f. 3-5. 



* HorL Kew. iii. 356. — Loudon, Arh. Brit. iu. 1873, f. 1736 



2 Quercus Virginiana Castanece folio, ii. 1801. — Breyne, Prodr. (^Quercus Prinus Monticold), 



ed. 1739, 93. 



5 One of the most interesting Oak-trees in the United States is 



2 Quercus castanece foliis procera arhor Virgiyiiana, L 54:, i. 3 ; Aim. a Chestnut Oak standing on the banks of the Hudson River, at 



Bot. 309. 



Presqu'ile, near Fishkill-on-the-Hudson, under which Washington 



Quercus foliis obverse ovatis utrinque acuminatis serratis : denticulis in 1782 and 1783 used to mount his horse when he went from his 

 rotundatis uniformibus, Linnseus, HorL Cliff. 448. — Clayton, Fl, headquarters on the west bank of the Hudson to the army encamped 



Virgin. 117. — Royen, Fl. Leyd. Prodr. 80. 



at Fishkill. This tree, which is still in vigorous condition, although 



The early description of the Chestnut Oak might apply as well its companion was blown down several years ago, has a fcriiuk 



Oak (Quercus Michauxii) 



diameter of seven feet, and is believed to be several hundred years 



which does not grow near the coast of Virginia, where, however, old, as a century ago it was already famous for its size and age 



first (Garden and Forest, i. 511, f. 81). 



of the Chestnut Oaks noticed by Europeans. 



