TREES AND THEIR VALUE FOR PLANTING 91 



Red Oak (Quercus rubra). — This is one of the largest 

 trees in the forests of the Northern States. Trees 150 feet 

 in height and 5 feet in diameter have been found. The trees 

 usually average 70 to 90 feet in height and 2 to 4 feet in 

 diameter. It occurs naturally scattered over the eastern part 

 of the country, running as far south as Georgia on the Appa- 

 lachian Mountains. It will grow well on all soils of medium 

 quality. It does best on bottomlands and lower slopes where 

 it gets some moisture in the soil. It will thrive on heavy clay 

 soils. The wood is heavy, hard, coarse grained and strong. 

 It is in demand for lumber in many regions. The tree makes 

 fast growth for an oak and it would be one of the best to 

 grow for fence posts and ties if the wood were more durable. 

 It absorbs creosote readily, however, and when treated will 

 make one of the most durable of posts or ties. The trees repro- 

 duce both from sprouts and from acorns. The acorns should 

 be planted in the field where the tree is to grow. Three acorns 

 should be planted in spots about 5 to 6 feet apart. The acorns 

 can be treated with red lead to prevent destruction by rodents. 

 This can be done by dampening the acorns and shaking in a 

 bag with a small amount of red lead. The acorns should be 

 planted about ij^ to 2 inches deep. Under good conditions 

 as on bottomlands and lower slopes, red oak at 20 years of age 

 will reach a height of 25 to 30 feet and a diameter breast 

 height of from 3 to 5 inches, and at 40 years a height of 

 40 to 50 feet and 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Being a fairly 

 tolerant tree it should be of value for underplanting old stands 

 of timber and for mixing with European larch, white pine and 

 other trees. 



Russian Mulberry (Morus alba tartarica). — The Russian 

 mulberry is a foreign tree that has proved successful in the 

 semi-arid regions, owing to its ability to endure almost any 

 amount of drought. It will grow on either sandy or clay soils. 

 It does not grow to large size, but under favorable conditions 

 produces very rapid growth. A growth of an inch in diameter 



