SOUTHERN RED OAK 257 



The wood closely resembles that of the Northern Red 

 Oak ; is heavy, strong, coarse-grained in rapidly growing 

 trees, hard, not durable in contact with the ground, with 

 light, reddish brown heartwood, and rather thin, lighter- 

 colored sapwood. Its medullary rays are not large. They 

 are short and somewhat conspicuous, but are not considered 

 an important feature, and much of the lumber cut is 

 " plain " sawed. It is largely used for furniture, interior 

 finish, its coarse grain showing distinctly, and general 

 structural purposes for which such wood is suitable. It is 

 quite difficult to season without checking. 



No information can be obtained of any attempt to cul- 

 tivate it. Even natural regeneration is not allowed to take 

 place. Like all Oaks it has a tap-root, but whether it is so 

 prominent as seriously to interfere with transplanting can- 

 not be ascertained. It matures its acorns in two years, and 

 no doubt planting these would be successful. Evidently 

 the same treatment as for other Oaks should be given it. 

 As the natural habitat of the tree is on ground suited to 

 cultivation, it is in the line of ultimate extinction unless 

 measures are taken to plant it or to allow natural reforest- 

 ation to take place. 



