quick] THE WHITE OAK 295 



Often on young trees they remain all winter. 



When the leaves are about one-third grown the flowers appear. 

 The staminate or pollen-bearing flowers hang in several strings, 

 like beads from the twig. They are fuzzy and bright yellow. 

 The pistillate flowers, which are not so noticeable are borne at 

 the axils of the leaves. 



All are familiar with the fruit of the white oak. Squirrels and 

 other animals are fond of their sweet kernels. I remember gather- 

 ing large stores to be made into cups and saucers for the play- 

 house. Their peculiar shape, the smooth round apex, bright 

 and shining which is fitted so well into a rough and scaly cup is 

 delightful to look at. As the oak begins to bear fruit at the age 

 of twenty years, many acorns are produced during its life and 

 fall to the ground and are left to care for themselves. 



This small acorn which possesses all the strong qualities of 

 the mother tree does not wait to dry up or crack open as do the 

 hickories or walnuts. It bursts its hard shell and sends its strong 

 tap root deep into the ground. In spite of grass or forest litter 

 it will manage to grow a short stem with a few leaves the first 

 season while the root will go deeper and deeper thus beginning 

 the root system which will later form a great part of the full- 

 grown tree. The oak roots extend far down into the sub-soil 

 gathering food materials for the tree growth, while near the surface 

 many spread horizontally, and give the tree its strength and poise. 



The Eastern white oaks grow well in many soils, it is found 

 chiefly in north eastern United States. Some specimens have 

 reached their greatest size in the Ohio Valley. This species 

 is fast disappearing from our forests. Its seeds are so often lost 

 and seedlings grow very slowly. The high value of its wood has 

 caused many a great oak to fall. The lumber is very strong 

 and durable, beautifully grained and firm. It is used for many 

 purposes as furniture, cars, wagons, and interior finishing. Its 

 bark contains a large amount of tanin which is used in the produc- 

 tion of leather. 



The oak does not live for itself alone but is a host for a number 

 of species of insects. A single oak may harbor 500 different kinds, 

 among them many gall makers. 



