14 



— Q- ''■ pedunciilata, the common English oak, and 

 the prevaihng variety, which produces the acorns 

 on foot-stalks, and Q. r. scssiliflora, which has 

 the acorns sessile or nearly so. The branches 

 of the pedunculate oak are said to have a dis- 

 position to spread and in the sessile oak to rise, 

 but the reverse habits may be constantly seen ; 

 much depends on the space the trees have during 

 growth. 



The leaves of the oak generally expand in 

 May and are retained till late in the autumn ; 

 but great variations are to be observed among 

 oaks both in the time of coming into leaf and 

 of casting their foliage. The catkins appear in 

 inconspicuous clusters, soon after the leaves. 



To show to advantage, an oak should stand 



alone, and be given full play to throw out its 



massive horizontal limbs. Apart from its grandeur, 



the oak has an intrinsic value which warrants its 



title of " monarch of the woods." An old oak, 



when denuded of its foliage, presents an attraction 



possessed by no other deciduous tree — 



" Let India boast her plants, nor envy we 

 The weeping amlier and the bahny tree, 

 \\'hile by our oaks the precious loads are borne 

 And realms commanded which those trees adorn." 



Pope. 



The tannin contained in the bark of young 



oaks well repa}s for stripping, when it is intended 



to fall thiMH. This is done in the spring, while 



