92 Italian Villa. 



is the White Oak [Quercus Alba). " The Oak, in point of usefulness to 

 man," says Loudon, " can only be equaled by the Pine and Fir tribe. 

 The latter may be considered the domestic, and the former the defensive 

 trees of civilized society," The Oak is useful not only for constructing 

 machinery, but for ship building. The White and the Live Oak found 

 in Florida are not equaled. The white is indigenous to North America, 

 and found in no other part of the world. This is the only American Oak 

 that retains some of its withered leaves until spring. The acorns 

 are large, oval and sweet. The bark of this tree is used for medicinal 

 purposes. It is found more abundantly in the Northern and Middle 

 States, and grows from 70 to 100 feet high. Some specimens are said 

 to have been found west of the Rocky Mountains 150 feet in height. We 

 also find in this distant region a range of forest extending along the base 

 of the mountains, 100 miles from the Pacific and several hundred in ex- 

 tent, abounding with the most magnificent trees in the world, among 

 which are many gigantic Pines. Some there are whose tops are 250 

 and 300 feet from the ground. This is a new Botanical region open for 

 research and scientific discovery. Very many of our new Pines and 

 Spruces have been introduced lately from west of these latitudes, discov- 

 ered in California and Oregon ; the most noted of which are the Menzies 

 and Douglass' Spruce. 



The other varieties of Oaks found in this country are the Live Oak in 

 East Florida {Quercus Virentes); the Scarlet Oak (Quoxus Coccinea) 

 is common in the Southern and Middle States, rising to the height of 80 

 feet ; the Red Oak (Q. Rubra) of the more Northern States ; the Black 

 Oak {Q. Nigra), one of the loftiest of our forest trees, which attains the 

 height of 90 feet, is common to most of our States and aftbrd^the valu- 

 :able quicitron ; the Swamp Oak (Q. Falustris); Black Jack {Q.Fer- 

 ruginea); the Marsh or Water Oak [Q. Aquatica); the Laurel Oak {Q. 

 Laurifolia) These varieties comprise nearly all the largest growing kinds 

 indigenous to this country. Europe presents a larger number of this spe- 

 cies of tree, but none that attain the majestic size of our native Oaks. 



ITALIAN VILLA. 



Italian architecture certainly presents, to the rural improver, most 

 agreeable forms and gublime effects for suburban habitations. This 



