CHAPTER XIX. 



THE TIMBER TREES OF CANADA AND NORTH AMERICA. 



Passing now from Europe to America, it will be well 

 to describe three or four of the most valuable kinds of 

 Oak which have been dealt with commercially and em- 

 ployed in this country. There are many others spread 

 over that vast continent ; but, as they are little known 

 here and not likely to be required, they will be only 

 briefly noticed. 



Of the large number of species of Oak — about 300 — 

 known to botanists, something like 40 or 50 are found 

 in the United States: these are commonly divided into 

 " White Oaks " and " Black Oaks," the former alone 

 yielding really valuable timber, that of the Black Oaks 

 being too soft and porous for constructive purposes. 



AMERICAN WHITE OAK {Quercus alba). 



This tree derives its name from the pale ash colour of 

 its bark, and is said to flourish in almost every variety of 

 soil, but best upon open ground at a moderate elevation, 

 some of the finest specimens being found in Maryland. 

 It is abundantly spread over a very large tract of country, 

 and, according to Michaux, it extends from the 28° to 



