190 FOREST TREES. 



ticut, under which was concealed the charter of the 

 state given by Charles Second soon after it was received. 



WHITE OAK. 



The most valuable species in this genus of forest 

 trees both in Europe and America is the white oak. 

 Indeed, the timber of this tree is probably applied to a 

 greater variety of uses in the domestic and useful arts 

 and comforts, than any other vegetable growing upon our 

 globe. In the character of this timber are combined so- 

 lidity, strength, elasticity, durability, and an abundant 

 growth, extending in this country in greater or less 

 quantities from latitude 28 to 40 north. It is used to a 

 great extent for the frames and coverings of houses, for 

 almost all kinds of agricultural implements, such as 

 wagons, carts, ploughs, and harrows, also for the posts 

 of fences, and sometimes for boards ; and except hickory 

 it is the best fire-wood found in the northern states. 



It is used in vast quantities for the staves of casks, fifty- 

 three millions of which were exported to the West 

 Indies, and the same article to the amount of one hun- 

 dred and fortysix thousand dollars to England, in the 

 year 1808, a part of which, however, were other species 

 of the same genus than white oak. The same timber 

 when young, on account of its elasticity, is extensively 

 used for hoops, as it is for baskets and many other pur- 

 poses where that property is required. 



But perhaps the most extensive, if not the most impor- 

 tant use to which this timber is applied, is tho building of 

 ships. In most of the ship-yards in the United States, 

 the keel, frame, knees, planks, and many of the boards, 

 for vessels of all sizes, are made of the timber of the 

 white oak. 



Though the American white oak bears a near re- 

 semblance to that of England and other parts of Europe, 

 it is said to be less firm in its texture, less durable, and of 

 course less valuable for most of the purposes to which it 

 is applied. It hence cannot like many other American 

 trees, be recommended for cultivation in Europe, but on 

 the contrary the European oak ought to be introduced 

 into our own forests. 



