FOREST TREES. 131 
anthers, two-celled; fertile flowers consisting of a 
three-celled and six-ovuled ovary, with a three-lobed 
stigma, enclosed by a scaly involucre, becoming a cup 
around the base of the acorn; flowers, greenish or 
yellowish, the fertile ones inconspicuous. 
With, perhaps, the exception of the Coniferous 
tribe, there is no tree so generally useful to mankind 
as the Oak. The species are quite numerous. Loudon 
describes more than forty that have been cultivated 
in Great Britain, and gives some account of seventy 
oreighty more. Others have been since discovered. 
With few exceptions, they are of considerable size, 
and belong mostly to temperate climates, those grow- 
ing within the tropics being found in elevated 
situations. The multiplication and distribution of 
the Oak appear to be in proportion to its usefulness, 
since most countries of Europe and North America 
are known to possess one or more species affording 
timber of superior excellence. Many of them are 
trees of majestic appearance and great beauty, and 
merit greater attention for ornamental purposes than 
they have yet received. 
In the present work, a part only of the native Oaks 
of the United States will be noticed, selecting prin- 
cipally such as are well-known and most valuable. 
Most species are of rather slow growth, and if land 
owners could be induced to interest themselves in the 
subject, more might be accomplished in many parts 
of the country by the preservation of young trees 
already in existence, than could be expected to result 
in aconsiderable time from artificial plantations. In 
