THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



NOVEMBER, 1853. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 

 Art. I. Our American Oaks. 



When we consider the grandeur, the beauty, and the 

 longevity of the oak, we are surprised that it is so little culti- 

 vated, and so rarely to be seen except in its native forests. 

 But when again we reflect that it is the most abundant of all 

 the trees of temperate regions, and everywhere scattered 

 throughout our country, our surprise is lessened, and we can 

 at once account for its neglect. In the early history of our 

 country, when every forest protected the savage inhabitants, 

 the woodman's axe was a better safeguard than the soldier's 

 rifle, and to open and clear a country was the best mode of 

 protecting it against the wily foe of the white man. The 

 oak, the most abundant tree, was hewn down by hundreds 

 and thousands. Still it remained the most numerous of our 

 forest trees. On the site of some magnificent grove rose up 

 the neat cottage of the settler ; and when shelter or shade 

 was wanted, it was looked for in some other and less com- 

 mon tree than the oak. The elm and the maple supplied 

 its place, and soon became the popular trees. An impression 

 that the oak was a slow grower, continued to render it more 

 objectionable, and in time it was altogether neglected. Ex- 

 otics, afterwards easily attainable by increased facilities of 

 importation, were next sought after, and the English lime, 

 the Horse chestnut, the Lombardy poplar, the European syc- 

 amore, (kc, became the common and admired ornaments ot 



TOL. XIX. NO. XI. 61 



