'94 TIMBER TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



broadly oval crown, reaching a height of 100 and a diameter 

 of 4 feet. 



It occurs from southern Maine to the shores of Lake Champlain, 

 •Quinte bay, Ontario, and the valley of the Genesee river, New 

 York, south to Delaware, and through the Appalachian mountain 

 region to northern Alabama, extending westward to central Ken- 

 tucky and Tennessee. 



In North Carolina it is found on dry soil and on the tops of 

 ridges westward from Franklin and Montgomery counties. It 

 reaches its best development oi; the slopes of the lower mountains 

 at an elevation of 2,000 to 4,000 feet, where with other oaks and 

 the chestnut it constitutes a large part of the forest. Above 4,000 

 feet it grows on the driest and rockiest ridges, often forming 

 extensive groves of pure forest. In the Piedmont plateau region a 

 smaller form is found, which seldom reaches a diameter of one foot. 

 (Fig. 21, p. 95.) 



The rock chestnut oak bears acorns very plentifully nearly every 

 year, or in the deep woods every second year. Young trees in all 

 stages of growth are common in open woods on dry rocky mount- 

 ains or in abandoned fields. In Lincoln and Union counties the 

 chestnut oak forms a considerable part of the regrowth after the 

 removal of mixed hardwoods and the short-leaf pine. Only the 

 ■smaller trees sprout from the stump. Many of the large speci- 

 mens growing upon dry soil are hollow at the butt as a result of 

 frequent fires. Borers often penetrate the lower parts of the 

 stems of small trees which occur on dry ground, but trees in damp 

 situations are nearly always sound. 



The leaves are upon short stems, usually broadest toward the 

 extremity, and with 6 to 13 large rounded teeth on each side. 

 Tiie acorns are large and oval, with thick, warty cups. The lai'ge 

 blunt winter-buds and the twigs are smooth. The numerous, 

 branching roots penetrate deeply into the soil. 



The wood is heavy, hard, strong, rather tough, close-grained, 

 durable in contact with the soil, and inclined to check in drying; 

 dark brown in color; the sapwood lighter. It is largely used for 

 fencing, railroad ties, and fuel. The bark is rich in tannin. 



