ECONOMIC USES. 



The wood of red oak is heavy, hard, coarse-grained, strong, and 

 moderately durable. It is inferior to white oak where great strength 

 is required, and does not last so long in the ground, but it works 

 easier, and is often preferred for interior finish and for cabinet work. 

 Good red oak is often sold as white oak, and for most purposes the 

 two need not be distinguished. Ordinarily it is distinctly better 

 than other species of the red oak group. 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 







The red oak reproduces freely both by acorns and by stump sprouts. 

 The acorns require two years to reach maturity. They are quite 

 bitter and are not relished by squirrels, and hence can be planted in 

 the field with less risk than white oak acorns. 



To secure vigorous sprouts, the trees should be felled between 

 November and March ; the stumps should be cut low and left smooth 

 and slanting on top. Sprouts then start close to the ground, where 

 they can soon develop root systems of their own and become self-sup- 

 porting. The slanting stump causes the rain water to run off, and 

 thus helps to prevent rapid decay. 



Red oak develops a taproot, which in loose soil grows strong and 

 penetrates to a considerable depth, but in shallow soil may be replaced 

 by strong secondary roots. 



PLANTING. 



It is usually advisable to plant acorns in their permanent place in 

 the field, for, like all oaks, the red oak is not easy to transplant when 

 once fairly established, because of its stout taproot. 



Where the area to be seeded can not be plowed, the acorns should 

 be planted in holes about 4 feet apart each way, although the proper 

 distance will depend upon local conditions. Three or four acorns 

 should be placed in each hole and covered with about 1J inches of 

 earth. If the planting is done on plow land, the soil may be prepared 

 as for any field crop. 



Red oak can be grown in pure stands, but it will often do well with 

 other oaks, sugar maple, white elm, chestnut, white pine, and hick- 

 ories. With chestnut and hickories red oak needs to be given a 

 start of two or three years, so that it will not be overtopped; but 

 other oaks, elm, sugar maple, and white pine may be planted at the 

 same time. Fast-growing trees, like locust, should not be planted 

 with red oak, unless they are certain to be cut back whenever their 

 branches interfere with the latter. 



[Cir. 58] 



