188 FOREST TREES. 



intelligent and sensible Frenchmen, were several splen- 

 did volumes, which by full and practical descriptions of 

 our forest trees, illustrated by splendid engravings, 

 do no little credit to the skill of their artists, while 

 of their own science, good sense, and ardor in the 

 promotion of rational improvement, they will descend 

 to posterity as living memorials. 



These gentlemen inform us that in our country, one 

 hundred and forty different species of trees grow to the 

 height of thirty feet, while in theirs, only thirtyseven 

 grow to the same height, and that but eighteen of those 

 are natives of their forests. 



Among the numerous kinds of trees which in this as 

 in every other country, load the earth with their wealth, 

 the oak is the most extensive and most interesting genus. 

 The different species of this tree, described by various 

 authors, amount to one hundred and forty, one half of 

 which are natives of America. 



The numerous species of this genus possess almost 

 every variety of character. They differ greatly in their 

 magnitude and elevation ; in the texture, strength, and 

 durability of their timber, size, taste, and abundance of 

 their fruit ; the form, color, and odor of their leaves, and 

 in almost every other property belonging to vegetables. 

 While one species presents its stern and lofty head to the 

 raging of the tempest, and protects from its fury the nu- 

 merous trees of less hardy growth, others merely creep 

 upon the earth, seldom lising more than twenty inches 

 above its surface. The timber of one kind is almost as 

 firm and durable as iron, while that of another is so loose 

 and open in its texture as to be classed among the soft 

 woods. The acorns of some oaks are large, extending 

 far out of their cups, are palatable to many animals, und 

 by some nations, especially by the natives of America, 

 esteemed as food and even as delicacies, and are very 

 abundant; while others are small, nearly covered by their 

 envelope, of a bitter taste, and with but here and there 

 one upon a tree. The leaves of some are small, others 

 large ; some smooth, others deeply indented ; some of a 



