The White Oak 



Martha Quick 

 Teacher in Rural Schools 



The White Oak is well called "The King of Trees." It is the 

 noblest among the fifty species of Oaks found in America. 



Since earliest time it has been regarded as a symbol of strength, 

 dignity and independence. Writers and poets of all ages have 

 found in it this quality. The Druids chose this tree as protection 

 for their ancestoral-fire worship. These lines of Virgil seem to 

 show the ancient feeling towards this tree. 



"Jove's own tree 

 That holds the woods in awful sovereignty 



The length of ages last his mighty reign 

 And lives of mortal men contend in vain 



For in the midst of his own strength he stands; 

 Stretching his brawny arms and leafy hands, 



His shade protects the plains, his head the hill commands." 



Since early childhood I have selected special trees which I have 

 called mine. They were to me, as playmates, or friends. Some- 

 times they were afar off on the horizon or across the fields in the 

 meadows or near by home, as the old apple tree with its friendly 

 humps which served as steps. The one tree which seems the 

 grandest and best of all is a great white oak. It stands on the 

 top of a high hill, looking over the slope of forest below it and across 

 the valley to another tree-covered slope 



We wonder about the history of these great trees. We have 

 no record but the story which the tree tells us. This tree is 

 about one hundred feet tall. The branches do not come out 

 below the height of about fifty feet. It stands where there was 

 once a forest. This high branchless pole shows its early life in 

 the forest, how it grew upward stretching its branches toward 

 the light. Later when the forest was cleared away it extended 

 its great arms in all directions. As most oaks require a centurv 

 to reach maturity this particular tree must be at least two hundred 

 years old. It is believed that many species reach a great age, 

 perhaps one thousand years. The famous Charter Oak of Hart- 

 ford was believed to be several hundred years old. 



The bark of the white oak is light gray with spots varying 

 to darker or white. It is scaly but not deeply fissured. The 

 branchlets are a light green but later become darker green and 



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