The Oaks 



hahiiat, rich, well-drained stream borders. Disirihuiion, Nova 

 Scotia to Minnesota; south to Georgia, Tennessee and Kansas. 

 Uses: A handsome, quick-growing shade and ornamental tree, 

 easily transplanted and free from insect pests. Wood used in 

 cooperage, cheap furniture, in construction and finish of buildings 

 and for fuel. It is inferior to white oak. Bark rich in tannic 

 acid, used in tanning leather. 



There is no American oak more highly prized in Europe than 

 the common red oak. It has been cultivated there for two cen- 

 turies, and splendid specimens are pointed out with pride, espe- 

 cially in Belgium, Germany and England, It is the "champion 

 oak" which flames in English parks when the foliage of native 

 species falls without a hint of the brilliant colouring which we 

 always expect in autumn woods. 



The red oak is so common in our Eastern forests that we have 

 not realised its worthiness as a street and ornamental tree. Surely 

 it is a stately tree in the forest, and as noble and benignant a figure 

 as the white oak where it has ample room to develop its round 

 dome. It grows faster than any other native oak and in a greater 

 variety of soils. It can be transplanted, even when 15 feet high, 

 from the woods to a lawn, and not notice the change. After it 

 becomes established a growth of a foot or more in height may be 

 expected yearly, and an increase in diameter of an inch of wood in 

 five years. 



The shining leaves of red oak, though they are variable in 

 form, are always cut oval and into triangular lobes which point 

 forward, rather than outward. The sinuses are angled or rounded, 

 but are not so broad as those of the black oak. These leaves are 

 leathery and smooth, those of black oak are rougher. The 

 bloom of red oak is more luxuriant than that of other oaks. 

 The tree is fairly draped with its long yellow catkins, and 

 the red stigmas shine out against the silvery pink of opening 

 leaves. 



The acorns of the red oak are unique. They are large, in 

 pairs, on very short stalks, and the nut sits in a broad, shallow 

 saucer covered with small, close-fitting scales. The acorn crop 

 is two years in ripening, but the tree is so vigorous that there are 

 usually nuts, or at least saucers, in evidence to identify the tree, 

 if the leaves do not determine it with certainty. The under bark 

 is red, while that of black oak is orange-yellow. This is another 



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