PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 399 



Q. Alba, our Northern White Oak. Q. Rubra, the Red Oak. Q. Obtnsil- 

 oba, the Post Oak. Q. Macrocarpa, Overcup or Burr Oak. Q. Prinus, Chest- 

 nut Oak. Q. Phillos, Willow Oak. Q. Coccinca, Scarlet Oak ; are all valuable 

 varieties to choose from. 



In the Southern States when a pine forest is cleared and left for a few years 

 undisturbed, very frequently Oak trees naturally take possession of the land, and 

 in a few years become valuable for the second growth timber. It is probable that 

 in the soft, mellow soil about the decaying pine stumps, acorns dropped by squir- 

 rels or other small animals, find lodgment and take root, which would not be the 

 case in hard soil. 



Thus Nature tries to cover the bare surface of all the earth with plants and 

 trees, but is often thwarted by the agency of man, as in case of the prairies where 

 man with fire has prevented all plant growth save the annual forms of herbs and 

 grasses. 



QUARTER SAWED OAK. 



About the year 1887, Black Walnut which had long been the favorite wood 

 for Cabinet purposes, having become so far exhausted that a sufficient supply 

 could no longer be obtained, lumber dealers and manufacturers turned their at- 

 tention to Oak as the most desirable wood for all kinds of furniture and for 

 inside finish to buildings, and as many portions of the country still had an ample 

 supply of oak timber, lumber manufacturers urged its adoption and began in- 

 creasing their output of oak lumber. 



Fashion governs the use of woods in furniture, as in the materials and styles 

 of other articles, and oak became at once in great demand. 



The annual growth of this timber being by additions around the outer portion 

 of previous growth of the tree and within the bark, each concentric circle of cells 

 record one year, while from the center, extending to the circumference of the wood 

 are the rays showing in the cross cut surface. In these medullary rays 

 is found the very thin sheet of wood growth which makes the silver grain so 

 highly esteemed by connoisseurs. 



Along these rays the wood splits easily under the skillful manipulation of the 

 workman, who with his frow and mawl rive out barrel staves of exceeding 

 thinness. 



\Yhen these rived boards are smoothly dressed with drawing knife or 

 plane, carefully following the grain, no appearance of this silver grain will be 

 noticed, the grain showing in straight parallel lines. It is when the instrument 

 cuts across the grain at a very acute angle that they appear as broad sheets of 

 silver. Lumber manufacturers endeavor to have as large a proportion of the 

 boards as possible show this silver sheet. 



Owing to the method of quarter sawing, each board requiring to be edged, 

 there is much waste in the numerous triangular pieces ; it is claimed there is a loss 

 of twenty per cent greater than in ordinary sawing. 



Besides there is much of the log which makes very narrow lumber, and join- 

 ing these narrow boards, so they may be used to better advantage, causes much 

 extra labor in cabinet work. 



