98 LIFE ON THE FARM. 



The white oak is so called because of its light- 

 colored bark. The bark is not pure white, but 

 light gray. The bark of the white oak, as well as 

 of all oaks, contains a large amount of tannic acid 

 which is used in tanning leather. Enormous quan- 

 tities of oak bark are used for this purpose. 



The quality of strength so characteristic of the 

 oak family is accentuated in the white oak. The 

 trunk is large and strong, the branches are gnaried 

 and massive, striking out boldly from the main 

 stem nearly at right angles, while the great, bulg- 

 ing roots at its base strike strongly and deeply into 

 the earth, giving it a foothold that defies the wild- 

 est storm. 



The white oak blossoms in early summer and 

 ripens its acorns before the autumn frosts of the 

 same season. The acorns are readily eaten by 

 many animals, and are quite nutritious. They may 

 even be eaten by human beings. Young white oak 

 trees are best secured by planting acorns, because 

 the trees do not bear transplanting well owing to 

 the downward tendency of their roots. 



Young white oak leaves unfold slowly from the 

 buds, being soft in texture and pink in color. 

 They are green during the summer, and turn red 

 in autumn. . 



The wood of the white oak has made it famous 

 the world over. It is beyond question the strong- 

 est of woods, and is used for numberless purposes 

 where strength is required. The strong timbers in 



