588 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



THE SWAMP WHITE OAK HAS A DEEPLY AND REGULARLY FUR 

 ROWED BARK. 



ests and woodlot, and promises to play a big role in the 

 forests of the future. 



The wood of white oak holds first place among our 

 native oaks. It is ashy-gray in color, closely grained, 

 hard, tough, durable, and weighs about 46 pounds per 

 cubic foot. No other wood has so wide a range of uses 

 and satisfies so many human wants. 



The Swamp White Oak has an appropriate common 

 name, for it is truly a white oak and usually occurs in 

 swamps or other wet places. It is an average-sized tree, 

 usually attaining a height of 60 to 70 feet, but an occa- 

 sional specimen may reach a height of 100 feet and a 

 diameter of 3 feet. The famous "Wadsworth Oak" was 

 a Swamp White Oak. It took its name from the estate 

 upon which it grew and reached a circumference of 27 

 feet. For many years it stood on the bank of the Gen- 

 essee River, about one mile from the village of Genesee, 

 New York. A large number of people traveled many 

 miles to see this natural wonder which finally was de- 

 stroyed by the washing away of the river bank. 



The Swamp White Oak can be distinguished from 

 other oaks at any season of the year by the bark on the 

 younger branches which peels off in thin large flakes. 

 This characteristic is also common to the Buttonwood or 

 Sycamore. In summer it can be recognized by the leaves 

 which have very shallow indentations between the lobes, 

 giving the leaves a rather broad appearance. In fall the 

 long-stalked acorns with their cuos enclosing about one- 

 third of the nut, are also characteristic. In winter the 



rather stout-yellowish lo reddish-brown twigs and the 

 small blunt-pointed buds, covered with chestnut brown 

 scales, are distinctive. 'Hie irregular, often drooping 

 |)Osition of the lower branches is ([uite peculiar to this 

 tree, and may often help to recognize it. 



The Swamp White Oak occurs naturally from Maine 

 and Quebec to Michigan and south to Georgia and 

 Arkansas. It may be classified as an important timljcr 

 tree, but does not rank so high as the true white oak. 

 Its lateral branches have a tendency to persist for many 

 years. This results in an inferior grade of lumber. It 

 possesses no special ornamental qualities which recom- 

 mend it for landscape work, but it will continue to be an 

 important member of the future forest structure in wet 

 places. 



The Post Oak is a well-known and widely distributed 

 member of the white oak group. It reaches its best de- 

 velopment in the Mississippi Valley, but it is also of com- 

 mercial importance in other parts of its natural range 

 from Massachusetts and Central Pennsylvania to Kan- 

 sas, Florida and Texas. It usually occurs on dry, rocky 

 soil, but it is not unusual to find it on gravelly uplands, 

 sandy plains and limestone hills. 



It is easv to recognize the Post Oak in summer bv its 



THE BUR OR MOSSY CUP OAK HAS MOSSY FRINGED ACORN CUPS, 

 CORKY-WINGED TWIGS, AND LARGE, ROUNDLOBED LEAVES. 



