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NATURE STUDY 



Both the ancient inhabitants of Greece and of Britain 

 worshipped the oak; and in all ages, among all people, 

 the majesty and beanty of the tree has made it the glory 



of the woods and the 

 recipient of the ad- 

 miration of men. 



Its fruit, the acorn, 

 was an important ar- 

 ticle of food to the 

 early inhabitants of 

 'Europe, and is still 

 sold for that purpose 

 in parts of Asia Mi- 

 nor and Spain. In 

 our own country, the 

 bear, the raccoon, the 

 squirrel, the wood 

 pigeon, and the 

 swine fatten on 

 them. The bark 

 is used for dyeing 

 and tanning. The 

 bark of the Spanish 

 cork oak gives us 

 cork. But the most valuable product of all is the wood, 

 which for strength, hardness, and durability is unsur- 

 passed. 



There are still standing in England oaks known to be 

 from a thousand to twelve hundred years old. 



In an old oak in Boscobel Eorest, King Charles II. 

 remained successfully concealed for a day after the 

 battle of Worcester, from which circumstance the oak 

 became a Stuart emblem. The day of accession of 



