THE WHITE OAK 



OF all the trees of the forest in which man has seen the qualities of life, the Oak 

 seems always to have been the symbol of sturdy strength. The literature of 

 all ages abounds in allusions to this quality of the tree, which has perhaps been 

 best expressed in those well-known lines of Virgil : 



" Jove's own tree, 

 That holds the woods in awful sovereignty; 

 Nor length of ages lasts his happy reign. 

 And lives of mortal men contend in vain. 

 Full in the midst of his own strength he stands, 

 Stretching his brawny arms and leafy hands, 

 His shade protects the plants; his heart the hills commands." 



To many Americans it is probable that the White Oak generally represents most 

 typically those qualities which have made the European Oak so prominent in literature. 

 This is one of the most widely distributed of our Oaks, and its wide-spreading branches 

 have been associated with the early life of great numbers of our people. Whether in sum- 

 mer, autumn, spring or winter the tree always has a distinctive and majestic beauty that 

 serves to endear it to all that come under its influence. 



Our native Oaks are readily divided into two great groups: in the first of these 

 the lobes of the leaf are rounded and the acorns mature in a single season ; in the second 

 the lobes of the leaf are pointed and the acorns require two seasons to mature. As will be 

 seen by reference to the plate, the White Oak, is a typical example of the first group, 

 which includes also the Swamp White Oak, the Chestnut Oak, the Burr Oak, and the Post 

 Oak. Among these trees the White Oak is distinguished by the fact that the sinuses 

 between the lobes are very deep, commonly extending more than half way toward the 

 midrib. This fact gives the species a distinctive character that enables one easily to 

 recognize it. The upper surface of the leaf is yellow green, the under surface being con- 

 siderably lighter. The rather small acorns are held in, shallow cups, singly or in groups 

 of two or three at the end of a very short stalk, which, however, is often lacking. 



The White Oak ranges on the north from Maine to Minnesota, on the west to 

 Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, and on the south to Florida. It is a valuable tree for land- 

 scape planting, although it grows slowly and is rather difficult to transplant successfully. 

 It is especially likely to be found on rather dry soils of sandy loam and it generally does 

 not take kindly to wet situations. It is most beautiful when growing in the open, as in 

 the case of the pasture oaks of New England, which are so beautiful, especially in autumn 

 when their foliage changes to a rich red color. 



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