62 THE NEW METHOD 



northern part of Africa, in Europe, in Asia, and 

 North America. They are also found on the islands 

 of Borneo, Celebes, Sumatra and Java. There are 

 about one hundred and forty-four different kinds of 

 oak trees in the world, twelve of which grow in Mas- 

 sachusetts. They do not grow at all in the North 

 frigid zone, as it is too cold for them, but mostly in 

 the north temperate zone, with a few kinds in the 

 torrid. They very rarely grow below the Equator, 

 and only a short distance. They grow as far north 

 as Hudson Bay, and all over North America below 

 there. But they grow best on rocky mountains and 

 rocky hills." 



The Quercus Rubra. 



"The Quercus rubra, or common red oak, is excelled 

 by none of the oaks in point of strength, majesty, and 

 beauty. It grows best in Massachusetts, but grows 

 very well in the adjoining states. It does not grow 

 farther north than the southern end of Hudson's Bay, 

 or farther south than South Carolina. They grow 

 west as far as West Virginia. They grow about 

 ninety feet high at the tallest and four feet thick. 

 The wood is of a light reddish color, and is composed 

 of fibers. It is of a darker color near the pith, and 

 the wood near the pith is called heart- wood, and that 

 near the bark is called sap-wood. The ducts are 



