CHAP. XIX.] AMERICAN OAK. 167 



the 46° of North latitude, and towards the west to the 

 State of Illinois. 



In open situations the trunk of this tree is of only 

 moderate length, but in the forests it frequently attains 

 the height of from 40 to 60 feet clear of branches, with 

 a circumference of from 7 to 8 feet, and very noble logs 

 of timber are produced from it. Those which I have 

 seen imported into this country have invariably been 

 straight, and hewn to correspond in appearance with our 

 English Oak " sided " timber ; some of the logs were 

 very large, but generally they varied from 25 to 40 feet 

 in length, and from 12 to 28 inches in the siding or 

 thickness. 



Thick-stuff of from 10 to 4^ inches, and plank of 

 4 to 2 inches, of very superior lengths, fair growth, and 

 free from knots, have usually formed part of the ship- 

 ments. There is, however, scarcely any compass timber 

 to be found beyond the little that can be obtained from 

 the branches, or from the spurs of the roots, which are 

 often very large. 



The wood is of a pale, reddish-brown colour, straight- 

 grained, moderately hard and compact, tough, strong, 

 and of fair durability. Being remarkable for its elas- 

 ticity, planks cut from it may, when steamed, be bent 

 into almost any form or curve, no matter how difficult, 

 without danger of breaking or splintering them. This 

 characteristic renders it especially valuable for ship- 

 building purposes. 



This wood opens very sound ; and as it shrinks but 

 little, and almost without splitting, during the process 

 of seasoning, there is nothing to prevent its extensive 

 use in railway carriage-building, civil architecture, and 

 generally in the domestic arts. I have known it to 

 stand the test of many years' exposure in the open 



