THE WHITE OAKS 



591 



*x,^'^T^^^^'IL'^'^ WHICH AT THE GROUND HAS A CIRCUMFER ENXE OF 31 FEET. IT STANDS NEAR KUTZTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 

 TIME OF THE BATTLE'^'^ ^^ AMMUNITION TRAIN OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY CAMPED UNDER THIS TREE ABOUT THE 



representatives of the White Oak group, while others be- 

 long to the Black Oak and Live Oak groups. The two 

 principal members of the White Oak group are : 



COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME 



1. Valley Oak Quercus lobata 



2. Garry Oak Quercus garryana 



The Valley Oak is so called because it grows chiefly 

 in valleys. It is the largest of all the western oaks and 

 usually reaches a height of 60 to 75 feet, but occasional 

 specimens become 100 feet high and 30 to 40 inches in 

 diameter. The leaves are deep green, minutely hairy on 

 top and round-lobed, the latter being a characteristic of 

 white oaks. The acorns mature in one season, and are 

 produced in large quantities. In some localities they are 

 fed to swine in lieu of grain. 



It is not unusual to find specimens of Valley Oak with 

 huge trunks bearing large, round, and broad crowns, the 

 lower branches of which are often drooping. Its wood is 

 prized highly, for native hardwood timber is scarce on 

 the Pacific Coast. 



Next to the Valley Oak, the Garry Oak, commonly 

 known as White Oak, is the largest oak of the Pacific 

 Coast region. The name "Garry Oak" was given to the 

 tree by David Douglas in honor of Nicholas Garry, of 

 the Hudson Bay Company, who furnished valuable as- 

 sistance to the botanists and other explorers of early 



times in northwestern America. 



This tree reaches its best development in the neighbor- 

 hood of Puget Sound, where it becomes 50 to 90 feet 

 high, and 18 to 30 inches in diameter. It is sometimes 

 called Western White Oak in contrast with the well- 

 known eastern White Oak. This tree, however, bears 

 more resemblance to our eastern Post Oak than to the 

 white oak, and for this reason has also been named Pa- 

 cific Post Oak. It may be recognized by its mature leaves 

 which are thick, deep green and shiny. They are from 

 3>4 to 6 inches long and distinctively round-lobed. The 

 twigs are also conspicuously hairy. 



This oak is one of the most important hardwoods of 

 the far northwest. The wood is not so good in quality 

 as the eastern white oak, but it is in great demand in the 

 northwest, where few hardwood trees grow. The scarc- 

 ity of wood suitable for tight cooperage along the Pacific 

 Coast makes this wood in great demand, and the tree will 

 unquestionably be given a prominent place in the future 

 forests of Oregon and adjoining states. 



The oak plays a more important part in European 

 history than any other group of trees. The most im- 

 portant of them belong to the White Oak group. In 

 England the oak is looked upon as the monarch of the 

 forest. It is the boast and glory of the whole nation. 



