400 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



Other woods are also quarter sawed ; such as Beech, Maple, Sycamore, etc., 

 which are used for hard wood finishing. 



Quarter sawing adds very materially to their beauty. 



The usual process of sawing ordinary lumber is to first take off a slab, and 

 enough boards from each of four sides, to square the log, after which the squared 

 timber is sawn into such planks or timbers as may be required. 



By this method of sawing the greatest economy is practiced, as the only waste 

 is in the sappy outer portions and the kerf, or saw cut. 



A very few boards immediately at the center exhibit the silver grain, but as 

 they extend either side, these disappear, becoming straight, parallel and plain 

 grain, except where a knot has twisted the growth and given it a gnarled or curly 

 form. 



LIVE OAK. 



Qtiercus Virens. 



In the early part of the iQth Century this Government made careful exami- 

 nations of the South Atlantic Coast region, where at that time the Live Oak was 

 quite abundant, and endeavored to reserve and protect this valuable wood for the 

 use of the navy and general ship building. The wood is very close grained, tough 

 and durable, and was formerly in great demand for special purposes in the con- 

 struction of wooden ships. The old frigate, Constitution, had much live oak 

 timber in her construction. 



The tree, while of slow growth, is a handsome evergreen, and more valued 

 at present as specimen and ornamental shade trees in the Gulf States, where the 

 tree is hardy. Usually the long, spreading branches are draped heavily with' the 

 pendulous wild Spanish moss. 



I measured the surface occupied by the branches of one Live Oak tree in 

 Alachua County, Florida, which covered 3,420 square feet, the main limbs being 

 IOO feet in length and extending fully 80 feet high. 



Here is one solitary tree occupying an entire acre of land, yet the main trunk 

 from branching so low, would scarcely make a good 12 foot saw log containing 

 150 cubic feet of lumber. 



As a handsome, noble, shade tree, it is invaluable ; it is mentioned to illustrate 

 the point to be impressed that for economic forest planting, the compact mass of 

 trees is essential. 



THE BEECH. 



Fagus Fcrrnginca. 



In Ohio and Indiana, as well as in a few other States, where the original for- 

 ests are almost destroyed, one tree has been left : here and there a clump of Beech 

 remains, probably from an earnest desire on the part of the land owners to retain 

 a portion of the original forests, this being the only tree they could not sell or 

 make into rails ; while the labor of sawing it into stove lengths in order that it 

 could be split is greater than its value for fuel when so prepared. One by one the 

 more valued trees have been removed as required for various uses. 



The Beech is a very beautiful tree, affords a dense shade, while the roots 

 forming a network just at the surface, prevents the ground from becoming soft 



