BLACK OAK 251 



BLACK OAK : Quercus velutina 



THE common names given to most trees appear to arise 

 from some peculiarity of appearance either in bark, leaves, 

 or wood, and the Black Oak is no exception. It was called 

 Black Oak, no doubt, from the dark color of its dead bark, 

 which, however, is not always black but sometimes brown, 

 and on many trees only a dark gray. If examination should 

 be made of its live inner bark, another name could be very 

 properly given it, and it has been, and that would be 

 "Yellow Oak." However, it is known as Black Oak in 

 twenty-five states of our Union, and by that name it should 

 be called, notwithstanding that its inner bark is yellow and 

 the lumber dealer persists in calling it Red Oak to his 

 customer. This tree should not be confounded with another 

 Oak called " Black Jack " ( Quercus marilandicct), which 

 may be found more or less spread over much of the terri- 

 tory in which the former grows. An inspection of the 

 inner bark will at once determine whether the tree is the true 

 Black Oak under consideration. Many times Red Oak is 

 called Black Oak, simply because its outer bark is dark 

 colored, and it is quite difficult to determine between them 

 by general outward appearance or by the character of the 

 wood. 



A line running along the coast from southern Maine to 

 Florida, thence along the Gulf to eastern Texas, from there 

 north to Wisconsin and then to Maine, would inclose the 

 region of its natural range. Its best development may be 

 found in southern New England and the central portions 

 of the Middle States. In some localities it is much dwarfed. 

 It is quite exacting as to character of soil and location. It 

 prefers rich, well-drained bottom lands, but will grow well 

 on fertile uplands and hillsides. It does not thrive on dry, 

 sterile soil. It sometimes reaches a height of one hundred 

 and twenty-five feet, with a stem four feet in diameter, but 

 such trees are not common. It is not a rapid grower, but 



