OAK FAMILY 



It seems idolatry with some excuse 

 When our forefather Druids in their oaks 

 Imagined sanctity. 



-COWPEK. 



The White of all American oaks is most akin to the common and familiar 

 tree of European countries, the oak of myths and of ]50etry, of Dodona and 

 Hercynia, the tree which Celt and Briton worshipped, which shaded the Uruid's 

 sacred fire and has at all times been the emblem of strength and longc\ity. 



— Garde!/ ai/J I-'orcst. 



Although called the White Oak it is very unusual to find an 

 individual with an absolutely white bark, the usual color is an 

 ashen grav. All in all, this is the most valuable as well as, 

 the most stately and beautiful of otir oaks. In the forest it 

 reaches a magnificent height, in the open it develops into a 

 massive broad-topped tree with great limbs striking out at 

 wide angles and carrying the idea of rugged strength to the 

 itv) tips of their branches. 



In spring the young letives are exquisite in their delicate 

 silvery pink, covered with soft down as with a blanket. The 

 petioles are short, and the leaves which cluster close to the 

 entls of the shoots are pale green and downy with the result 

 that the entire tree has a inisty, frosty look which is very 

 beautiful. This lovely vision continues for several days pass-- 

 ing through the opalescent changes of soft pink, silvery wdiite 

 and finally yellow green. 



The autumnal tints of the White Oak are also beautiful ; its 

 rich purplish red glows in the forest and gives a splendor to 

 November days long after the maples and sumachs have shed 

 their leaves. 



The leaves unfold late ; although they vary in form some- 

 what they keep fairly true to the type and need never be mis- 

 taken. The most divergent form approaches a skeleton leaf. 

 Oblong or obovate, they are usually seven-lobed with both 

 lobe and sinus rounded and the lobe destitute of a bristle at 

 its apex. The acorn is the product of the blossom of the 

 year and the kernel is sweet ; not sweet like that of the 

 chestnut or hickory but sweet contpared to (jther acorns. 



The White Oak lives long. The famous Charter Oak of 



330 



