DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 101 



being used for various purposes in building ; and staves of 

 the white oak, for barrels, are in universal use throughout the 

 Union. The great occasional size and fine form of this tree, 

 in some natural situations, prove how noble an object it would 

 become when allowed to expand in full vigour and majesty, 

 in the open air and light of the park. It more nearly ap- 

 proaches the English oak in appearance, than any other 

 American species. 



Rock Chestnut oak. ( Q. Prinus tnonticola.) This is one of 

 the most ornamental of our oaks, and is found in considerable 

 abundance in the middle states. It has the peculiar advan- 

 tage of growing well on the most barren and rocky soils, and 

 can therefore be advantageously employed by the landscape 

 gardener, when a steep, dry, rocky bank is to be covered 

 with trees. In deep mellow soil, its growth is wonderfully 

 vigorous, and it rapidly attains a height of 50 or 60 feet, 

 with a corresponding diameter. The head is rather more 

 symmetrical in form and outline, than most trees of this ge- 

 nus, and the stem in free open places shoots up into a lofty 

 trunk. The leaves are five or six inches long, three or four 

 broad, oval, and uniformly denticulated, with the teeth more 

 regular but less acute than the Chestnut white oak. When 

 beginning to open in the spring, they are covered with a thick 

 down ; but when fully expanded, they are perfectly smooth, 

 and of a delicate texture. Michmix. 



Chestnut White oak. {Qiierciis Prinus pahistris.) This 

 species much resembles the last, but differs in having longer 

 leaves, which are obovate, and deeply toothed. It is sparingly 

 found in the northern states, and attains its greatest altitude 

 in the south, where it is often seen 90 feet in height. Though 

 generally found in the neighbourhood of swamps and low 

 grounds, it grows with wonderful rapidity in a good, moder- 

 ately dry soil, and from the beauty of its fine spreading head, 

 and the quickness of its growth, is highly deserving of intro- 

 duction into our plantations. 



The Yellow oak. ( Q. Prinus acuminata.) The Yellow 

 oak may be found scattered through our woods over nearly 



