98 



2 miles east of Anderson. This site was formerly an Indian village, and 

 the trees may have been introduced here. The late A. C. Benedict 

 formerly of the State Geological Survey, told me he saw a colony in 

 1878 in Fayette County on the farm of Dr. B. Ball, about 3 miles west 

 of Connersville on the east side of Little Williams Creek. The trees 

 were at least 6 dm. in diameter. The western line of distribution would 

 be a line drawn from Martinsville to a point a few miles west of Shoals 

 and south to Tell City. 



Remarks. The greatest numbers of this species are found on the 

 outcrops of the knobstone in Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Lawrence, 

 Martin, Orange and Washington Counties. It grows on high ground, 

 associated with white and black oak, beech, etc. The species in all of 

 our area grows to be a large tree. In the Ind. Geol. Kept. 1874:70:1875 

 there is a reference to a "stump in Jackson County that was 9 ft. and 

 2 in. in diameter." This species is rather gregarious in habit, and 

 rarely are isolated trees found. It is quite local in its distribution, 

 but where found it is usually a common tree. The bark was much used 

 in tanning, and the timber for poles, ties and posts. The demand for 

 this species has led to heavy cutting, so that the present supply is prac- 

 tically limited to inferior or small trees. The nut crop in this State 

 is usually badly infested by the weevil. 



This species is easily propagated by seed or seedlings. It is recom- 

 mended for forest planting in all parts of its natural range and other 

 parts of the State where the soil is very sandy and free from limestone. 

 This species never attains to an old age when growing close to the 

 limestone. It grows rapidly and requires little pruning. The only 

 objection to planting it for forestry purposes is that it might be in- 

 fested by the chestnut bark disease which is fatal to this tree. This 

 disease is far to the east of us, and there are wide barriers to its western 

 migration. Since a chestnut grove would soon grow into post and 

 pole size, in the event the grove would be killed by the bark disease, 

 the crop could be harvested and the loss would be more of the nature 

 of a disappointment than a financial one. If planted in a cleared area 

 the seedlings should be spaced about 5x5 feet if no cultivation can 

 be done. If the trees can be cultivated, plant 7 x 7 or 8 x 8 feet and 

 grow corn for one or two years between the rows. 



3. QUERCUS. THE OAKS. 



The leaves of Indiana oaks are deciduous; flowers appear in April 

 or May, very small, the staminate on slender pendulous catkins, the 

 pistillate solitary or in clusters in scaly bud-like cups; fruit an acorn 

 which takes one or two years to mature, ripening in September or 



