THE OAKS AND CHESTNUT 



73 



gray color — lighter than 

 that of the other oaks — 

 and breaks into soft, 

 loose flakes as in Fig. 58. 

 The leaves are deeply 

 lobed as in Fig. 57. 

 The buds are small, 

 round and congested at 

 the end of the year's 

 growth. The acorns 

 usually have no stalks 

 and are set in shallow, 

 rough cups. The kernels 

 of the acorns are white 

 and palata])le. 



Form and size: The 

 white oak grows into a 

 large tree with a wide- 

 spreading, massive 

 crown, dissolving into 

 long, heavy, twisted 

 branches. When grown 

 in the open it possesses 

 a short sturdy trunk; in 

 the forest its trunk is 

 tall and stout. 



Range : Eastern 

 North America. 



Soil and location: The white oak thrives in almost 

 any well-drained, good, deep soil except in a very cold and 

 wet soil. It requires plenty of light and attains great age. 



Fig. 58.— Bark of White Oak. 

 (Quercus alba.) 



