TREES OF AMERICA. 19 



that the natives of the islands where the co- 

 coamit is found make the roofs of their houses 

 with the leaves ; I should think they would 

 make but a sort of very poor covering ; they 

 cannot keep the rain out, -can they ?" 



" They could not, indeed, if they were such 

 leaves as you have been used to see ; but they 

 are immensely large, and quite thick enough 

 to serve all the purposes of a roof, as well as 

 shingles, or even slates. Now can you tell 

 me which is the most useful tree in this 

 country ?" 



"Pine is very much used for carpenters' 

 work ; is it the pine, Uncle Philip ?" 



" No, boys ; though the wood of the pine is 

 good for a great many things, it is not as 

 valuable as that of the oak, nor indeed is any 

 other wood that grows in this country applied 

 to as many and such important uses ; and 

 I suppose that the oak, as it is to the eye the 

 grandest, must also be pronounced the most 

 useful of trees. The wood is very firm and 

 solid, and lasts a long time ; and for some 

 purposes there is no other kind of wood in the 

 world that can compare with it." 



" I have heard the miller say, that oak tim- 

 ber is the best for mills, and all kinds of car- 



