CHAPTER XLVI. 
THE OAK. 
Its Rank among Trees.—Procuring and Sowing its Seed.—The Burr 
Oak. —Its Attainable Growth.— Description of the Burr Oak as 
given by Dr. P. R. Hoy.—Its General Appearance and Beautify- 
ing Character.— Durability of its Wood.— Manner of Growth.— 
Its Utility and Ornament.—Its Abundance and Distribution.—Its 
Zone of Thrift.— Characteristics of its Foliage. — Conditions by 
which to Distinguish Species.—Opinions on Transplanting.—The 
White Oak, the Post Oak, the Swamp Chestnut Oak, the Black 
Oak, the Scarlet Oak, the Red Oak, the Pin Oak, the Willow Oak, 
the Laurel Oak, the Black-Jack Oak, the Spanish Oak, and the Live- 
Oak Separately and Variously Described. 
Tue oak is the most valuable of all trees. It can read- 
ily be raised from the seed, which should be gathered in 
the fall, after the acorns drop. The best month to gath- 
er seed is October, and it should be planted at once, or 
kept in a cool, moist condition until spring. The plants 
should be set out about eight feet apart, and between 
the rows some upright-growing trees can be planted as 
nurses for the oaks. These latter should be cut away 
whenever it is necessary to make room for the growth. 
Burr oak and chestnut oak are best for fuel, and red oak 
the best for rails. 
THE BURR OAK. 
The burr oak attains immense size in Indiana and 
some other Northern States. A gentleman living in 
Marion County, Indiana, told the writer: “The burr 
oaks in this neighborhood attain: the diameter of six 
feet, and with a stem, in one instance, of sixty feet high 
without a limb.” The following description of the burr 
