4 



DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 123 



here describe only a few of those which are most entitled 

 to the consideration of the planter, either for their valuable 

 properties or as ornamental trees, and calculated for plant- 

 ing in woods or single masses. 



The White oak. (Quercus alba.) This is one of the most 

 common of the American oaks, being very generally dis- 

 tributed over the country, from Canada to the southern 

 states. In good strong soils it forms a tree 70 or 80 feet 

 high, with wide extending branches ; but its growth de- 

 pends much upon this circumstance. It may readily be 

 known even in winter by its whitish bark, and by the dry 

 and withered leaves which often hang upon this species 

 through the whole of that season. The leaves are about 

 four inches wide and six in length, divided uniformly into 

 rounded lobes without points ; these lobes are deeper in 

 damp soils. When the leaves first unfold in the spring 

 they are downy beneath, but when fully grown they are 

 quite smooth, and pale green on the upper surface and 

 whitish or glaucous below. The acorn is oval and the cup 

 somewhat flattened at the base. This is the most valuable 

 of all our native oaks, immense quantities of the timber 

 being used for various purposes in building ; and staves of 

 the white oak for barrels are in universal use throughout 

 the Union. The great occasional size and fine form of this 

 tree, in some natural situations, prove how noble an object 

 it would become when allowed to expand in full vigor and 

 majesty in the open air and light of the park. It more 

 nearly approaches the English oak in appearance than any 

 other American species. 



Rock Chestnut oak. (Q. Prinus Monticola.) This is 

 one of the most ornamental of our oaks, and is found in 

 considerable abundance in the middle states. It has the 



