34 HOUGH'S AMERICAN WOODS. 



125473; Modulus of Rupture, 1031; Resistance to Longitudinal Pres- 

 sure, 538; Resistance to Indentation, 230; Weight of a Cubic Foot in 

 Pounds, 46.73. 



USES. A valuable tree both on account of its bark aiv.1 wood. The 

 latter is put to many of the uses for which the White Oak is employed, 

 and is largely used for fencing, fuel and railroad ties in many localities. 



The bark is very rich in tannin, and hence is valuable for tanning 

 purposes. 



MEDICINAL PROPERTIES. The bark of this Oak, in common with that 

 of several other species, is astringent and somewhat tonic, but is not em- 

 ployed as an internal remedy. The decoction may be advantageously used 

 as a bath, particularly for children when a combined tonic and astringent 

 effect is desirable and the stomach is not disposed to receive medicines 

 kindly. It has been employed in this way in marasmus, scrofula, inter- 

 mittent fevers, chronic diarrhoea and cholera infantum. As an injection 

 in leucorrhoea, as a gargle in slight inflammations of the fauces and as a 

 wash where an astringent action is desired the decoction is often useful.* 



NOTE. Owing to the tenacity with which this tree takes root and 

 flourishes on rough, rocky hill-sides, and its great utility to man, it is 

 doubtless destined to be an important tree in the future for the re-for- 

 estation of such tracts when the natural timber supply shall have been 

 exhausted. Those having such land could not, we would think, put it to 

 better use than to strew it with acorns of this species. Nature would do 

 the rest, but the young trees should be protected from cattle and fires, 

 and in time a bounteous return for the little labor and expense would be 

 the result. 



68. QUERCUS MUHLENBERGII, ENGELM. 

 CHINQUAPIN OAK, CHESTNUT OAK, YELLOAV OAK 



Ger., Kostanien-Eiche ; Fr., Clienejaune; Sp., RoUe amarillo. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: Leaves varying from lanceolate to oblong and obovate, 

 usually taper-pointed and acute (sometimes roundish) at base, coarsely and rather 

 equally undulate-toothed, the teeth quite sharp and terminating the 6-12 pairs 

 of straight, protainent, primary veins, glaucous-hoary beneath; petioles long and 

 rather slender, with 6-8 stamens; stigmas sessile or nearly so. Fruit, acorns matur- 

 ing the first year, nearly sessile, with shallow, thinnish cup, composed of small, not 

 very closely appressed scales, and covering about one-third of the roundish-ovoid nut, 

 which is | in. or less in length; kernel sweet and edible. 



[[^ipThere is a dwarf oak closely resembling this, excepting in being a shrub, hav- 

 ing leaves with shorter petioles, etc. By some authors it is ranked as identical with 

 this as being merely a dwarf form, and the name Q. prinoides, Willd., is given to 

 include both the shrub and the tree. By other authors they are considered as dis- 

 tinct, and Q. prinoides applies to the shrub only. 



If. S. Dispensatory, 16th ed., p. 1261. 



