AMERICAN FOREST TREES 255 



foot heavier. The sapwood is light in color, the heartwood brown, 

 sometimes quite dark. The pores in the sapwood are open, but many 

 of them are closed in heartwood. The annual rings are moderately 

 well defined. The large pores are in the springwood, and those of the 

 summerwood are smaller, but numerous. The medullary rays are nu- 

 merous and dark. Measured radially, they are shorter than those of 

 many other oaks. They show well in quarter-sawed lumber, but are 

 arranged peculiarly, and do not form large groups of figures; but the 

 wood presents a rather flecked or wavy appearance. The general tone 

 is dark brown and very rich. It takes a smooth polish. When the 

 wood is worked into spindles and small articles, and brightly polished, its 

 appearance suggests dark polished granite, but the similitude is not 

 sustained under close examination. Grills composed of small spindles 

 and scrollwork are strikingly beautiful if displayed in light which does 

 the wood justice. Composite panels are manufactured by joining 

 narrow strips edge to edge. Selected pieces of dressed live oak suggest 

 Circassian walnut, but would not pass as an imitation on close inspection. 

 It may be stated generally that live oak is far from being a dead, flat 

 wood, but is capable of being worked for various effects. Its value as a 

 cabinet material has not been appreciated in the past, nor have its 

 possibilities been suspected. It dropped out of notice when shipbuilders 

 dispensed with it, and people seem to have taken for granted that it had 

 no value for anything else. The form of the trunks makes possible the 

 cutting of short stock only; but there is abundance of it. It fringes a 

 thousand miles of coast. Many a trunk, short though it is, will cut 

 easily a thousand feet of lumber. Working the large roots in veneer has 

 not been undertaken, but good judges of veneers, who know what the 

 stumps and roots contain, have expressed the opinion that a field is there 

 awaiting development. 



Published reports of the uses of woods of various states seldom 

 mention live oak. In Texas some of it is employed in the manufacture 

 of parquet flooring. It is dark and contrasts with the blocks or strips of 

 maple or some other light wood. It is turned in the lathe for newel 

 posts for stairs, and contributes to other parts of stair work. In Louisi- 

 ana it is occasionally found in shops where vehicles are made. It meets 

 requirements as axles fpr heavy wagons. Stone masons' mauls are maae 

 of live oak knots. They stand nearly as much pounding as lignum- 

 vitae. More live oak is cut for fuel than for all other purposes. It 

 develops much heat, but a large quantity of ashes remains. 



The live oak is the most highly valued ornamental tree of the South, 

 though it has seldom been planted. Nature placed these oaks where 

 they are growing. Many an old southern homestead sits well back in 



