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215 



earth, and the Greeks, Eomans, and Germans considered 

 it sacred to the king of the gods, called by them, respec- 

 tively, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor. 



A chaplet of oak leaves was the highest honor that 

 could be given to a Roman soldier. 



Next to the Charter Oak, perhaps the most famous 

 American oak is the one near Fishkill, on the Hudson, 

 under Avhich, it is said, Washington used to mount his 

 horse. Even then it was famous for its age. 



In the Middle Atlantic States, of the trees that ripen 

 their acorns within a year, the best known are the white 

 and chestnut oaks ; within two years, the black, red, and 

 the pin oaks. 



The oak is peculiarly subject to the attacks of insects. 

 Several different species produce 

 on them various galls, or large 

 swollen masses, caused by irri- 

 tation of the plant tissue, and 

 in the centres of which are the 

 eggs of the gall insect. From 

 a tincture made from boiling 

 certain kinds of these, on the 

 addition of copperas, ink is 

 made. 



The Beech: 



The bark of the beech, a fa- 

 vorite subject with painters, is 

 a smooth bluish gray, sprinkled 

 with round ash-colored spots. 

 The tree often retains its yel- 

 low withered leaf all Avinter. 



Beech. 



These facts, combined 



with its peculiar bowl shape, especially marked in the 



