FOREST TREES AND SHRUBS OF HINGHAM. Ill 



Q. obtvsiloba, Post Oak ; Fagus ferruginea, American Beech ; 

 CarpinuS. Americana, American Hornbeam ; Ostrya Virginica, 

 American hop hornbeam ; Castanea vesca, Chestnut. 



The above-named oaks constitute ten of the eleven species of 

 oaks described by Emerson in his work on the trees and shrubs 

 of Massachusetts. The chestnut oaks are rarely to be found, 

 and only one. specimen of the post oak has been positively 

 identified. Mr. Emerson says (and it strictly accords with our 

 own observation,) that the oaks are divided into two well-defined 

 sections according to the character of their leaves ; the first 

 comprising those species whose leaves are destitute of flexible 

 points or bristles ; the second, those the segments of whose 

 leaves are mucronate, or terminate in bristles. A very impor- 

 tant difference is also observed in the length of time required 

 for the blossoms to bring their fruit to maturity. The oaks 

 which belong to the first section blossom in the spring and 

 bring their fruit to maturity in the fall. In those included in 

 tiie second section, on the contrary, the fertile blossom makes 

 its appearance in the axils of the leaves on the new shoot, and 

 remains a whole year without change. In the spring of the 

 second year after a new shoot has been produced, and new 

 barren and fertile flowers have made their appearance, it is 

 probably for the first time fertilized, and then begins to increase, 

 and brings its fruit to maturity eighteen months after its first 

 appearance. The wood of the white oak is much used in the 

 structure of articles in which strength, firmness and durability 

 are essential properties. The swamp white oak is fine grained 

 and possesses great strength and elasticity. The little chin- 

 quapin seldom exceeds ten feet in height, produces small acorns 

 in abundance. It is found at Cobb's Bank and at other places 

 near the seashore. 



The yellow-bark oak is distinguished from all otliers, by the 

 rich yellow color of its inner bark ; for fuel it is nearly equal to 

 walnut. The scarlet oak for fuel is decidedly inferior to the 

 above-named. The red oak is of the least value for fuel, but 

 no oak in this climate surpasses it in beauty of foliage ; and 

 none attains to more magnificent proportions. The bear oak 

 seldom reaches the height of eighteen feet. It grows in various 

 soils and situations. The American beech does not abound. 

 Its wood is very close grained and is much used in the mechanic 



