GETTING AC^AINTED WITH THE TREES 



ter species is beautiful in its habit, rich in its 

 foHage, and the fringed or mossed acorns are 

 of a remarkable size. 



Of all the oaks, the sturdy but not lofty 

 post-oak spreads the richest display of foliage. 

 Its peculiar habit leads to the even placing 

 of its violoncello-shaped leaves, and its generous 

 crop of acorns gives added distinction in late 

 summer. It is fine in the forest, and a 

 notable ornament anywhere. 



It has been said that a proper penance for 

 an offending botanist would be a compulsory 

 separation and description of the involved and 

 complicated goldenrod family; and I would 

 suggest that a second edition of the same 

 penance might be a requirement to name off- 

 hand the first dozen oak trees the same poor 

 botanist might meet. So much do the foliage, 

 the bark, and the habit of growth vary, and so 

 considerable is the difference between individ- 

 uals of the same species, that the wisest expert 

 is likely to be the most conservative. An 

 unbotanical observer, who comes at the family 

 just because he loves trees in general, and is 

 poking his eyes and his camera into unusual 



40 



