34 BULLETIN 816, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTURE. 



The red oak^ (fig. 24) is probably the best tree for street planting 

 in regions 1, 9, 10, and 11 and is satisfactory in regions 6, 7, 8, and 12. 

 It is a large, oval, open-beaded tree of rapid growth. Under good 

 conditions a young red oak will grow 4 feet in a single season. Like 

 the other oaks it is slow in coming into leaf in the spring, but holds 

 its foliage late in the fall. The leaves usually turn a brilliant red 

 before they drop. It is comparatively free from insect and fungous 

 attacks, and it is one of the few trees really suitable for planting close 

 to the ocean, as it thrives on sandy lands only a few feet above high 

 tide or within the reach of ocean spray. 



The scarlet oak^ is a large, open, round-headed tree. Its leaves 

 are more deeply divided than those of the red oak. As its name 

 indicates, the leaves turn a brilliant scarlet in autumn, being even 

 more gorgeous than the red oak. This tree is adapted for street 

 planting and is especially desirable for suburban conditions in regions 

 1, 9, and 10. 



The swamp Spanish oak^ is adapted to regions 11, 12, and 13. 

 It belongs to the red-oak group, but is larger than the other oaks 

 suggested for street planting. It is well adapted to suburban loca- 

 tions, but apparently it has not been tested under severe city 

 conditions. 



The valley oak"* is a beautiful tree for regions 2 and 3 and the more 

 favorable parts of region 5. When transplanted young, especially 

 if taken from a pot, it is easily established where there is opportunity 

 to water it for a few years. 



The water oak^ is frequently confused with the willow oak and 

 the laurel oak, as these three oaks are not distinguished from one 

 another except by close observers of trees. It is probably more used 

 than any other tree in the cities of region 12 and the adjoining portions 

 of region 11. It is the weed of the southern oaks and one of the 

 weeds of the street trees of the Southern States. It is comparatively 

 short lived and seems to be more subject to attacks of mistletoe and 

 more easily affected by windstorms than the willow oak, the Darling- 

 ton oak, and the laurel oak. The planting of this tree should be 

 avoided, because it is less desirable than the other oaks mentioned. 



The wiUow oak ** (fig. 1), sometimes erroneously called the water 

 oak, is one of the best of the quick-growing oaks for use in regions 

 11 and 12. It is frequently used with the water oak for street plant- 

 ing and in the mind of the average planter is confused with it. It is, 

 however, a distinct tree, which can be distinguished readily from the 



1 Quercus maxima (March.) Ashe (formerly Q. rubra). 



2 Quercus coccinea Muench. 



^Quercus rubra L. (formerly Q.falcata, and certain forms separated by some boiianists as Q. pagodae- 

 folia Ashe). 



* Quercus lobata Nee. 



5 Quercus nigra L. 



6 Quercus pliellos L. 



