OAKS. 221 



brown with much lighter brown sapwood. Specific gravity 

 0.7453; weight of a cubic foot 46.45 pounds. 



Uses. The Bur Oak is the most magnificent, most durable 

 and longest lived tree for planting throughout this whole 

 section. It is also one of the most valuable timber trees of 

 North America, although its wood is rather coarser grained 

 and inferior in strength to that of the White Oak with which 

 it is commercially confounded. 



Quercus rubra. Bed Oak. 



Leaves oblong-obovate to oblong, moderately sometimes 

 deeply pinnatifid with rounded sinuses, 7 to 9 narrow lobes, 

 these and the teeth being bristle pointed; mature leaves rather 

 thin, turning dark red after frost in autumn. Cup saucer- 

 shaped or flat with a narrow raised border of fine scales, ses- 

 sile or on a very short stalk, very much shorter than the 

 acorn which is oblong-ovoid or turgid-ovoid, 1 inch or less in 

 length, with a bitter kernel. Two years are required to ripen 

 the nut which is consequently found on the old wood below 

 the leaves of the season. Bark smoother than that of most 

 oaks. A tree 70 to 80 or more feet high with a trunk 3 or 4 

 feet in diameter. 



Distribution. From Nova Scotia to the divide west of 

 Lake Superior and to central Kansas, south to Georgia and 

 Tennessee. In Minnesota found along the Mississippi River 

 and occasionally in other parts, but is not very common any- 

 where in the state. 



Propagation. Easily grown from fall sown seeds. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, hard, strong, coarse grained 

 and liable to check badly in drying. Specific gravity 0.6621; 

 weight of a cubic foot, 41.25 pounds. 



Uses. The Red Oak has been used to a limited extent in 

 this country and Europe as an ornamental tree for which its 

 stately form, vigorous growth, and fine autumn coloring make 

 it especially desirable. No oak of the northern states is more 

 easily transplanted. The wood which in trade is not distin- 

 guished from that of the Scarlet Oak, is used for interior 

 finishing, furniture and in construction and has a beautiful 

 grain for finishing. It is often used for fuel, but is generally 



