CHAPTER VIII. 



EUROPEAN TIMBERS. THE OAK {Quercus). 



The Oak, regarded generally, is found to be very widely 

 spread. It has been met with in Europe in about 35° N., 

 and is known to extend to 60°, or over 25° of North 

 latitude. Various species are also found in the north of 

 Asia, North America, and in Africa. 



The Oak exists in very great variety, and England 

 produces two, if not three, distinct sub-species or 

 varieties, in addition to numerous others, not native, but 

 which are cultivated for ornamental purposes. The 

 botanical names of those which are indigenous to this 

 country are Quercus Robur pedunculata, Quercus Robur 

 sessiliflora, and Quercus pubescens, or Durmast Oak. 



In the former, which is our best species, the foot- 

 stalks of the female flowers and acorns are long, while 

 those of the leaves are short. In Quercus sessiliflora this 

 order is reversed, the footstalks of the fruit being short 

 and those of the leaves long ; while the distinguishing 

 character of Quercus pubescens consists in its having the 

 under sides of the leaves somewhat downy, the footstalks 

 of the fruit and leaves nearly resembling those of the 

 sessiliflora variety. It is also peculiar to the leaves of 

 the Durmast or pubescent species that they commonly 

 hang longer on the tree than those of either of the others. 



It is the prevailing opinion that the wood of Quercus 

 Robur pedunculata is the best in quality, and that Quercus 



