80 FOREST TREES OF CALIFORNIA. 



kneeling or resting on their elbows, as grotesque as an old 

 olive yard and nearly as human in expression; these and a 

 thousand others might be named. Then, their natural dis- 

 tribution on the landscape is always an interesting study; it 

 so often reminds you of the grouping of a vast concourse of 

 people on some festive occasion, when, con amove, reposing 

 on the lawn at the picnic grounds, the free and easy social 

 laws of life assert themselves for tacit acquiescence, neither 

 asking nor tolerating arbitrary human enactments, for her 

 eternal laws are the same in leasts and lasts as in greatest 

 and first principles, the ever unchangeable; and because they 

 bear this highest seal of a divine philosophy, are always 

 "charming, as is Apollo's lute." 



The expression of this pastoral oak is that of calm rural 

 repose, little or no agitation of leaf or limb, but a peculiar 

 peaceful stillness, rest — at all times gentle, tranquil rest. As 

 all objects in nature have their spheres, so have the oaks theirs. 

 Few, we venture to say, can be found who have not had some 

 experience of the exhilarating effect of the odor of oaks. 

 This enspiriting ether is eminently characteristic of the 

 deciduous species, although in a degree, common to all, 

 especially is it noticeable at early dawn, and after showers. 

 The sanitary influence of these aromas, aura-bathed, and 

 every way breathed is to furnish the essential ethereal food 

 of the brain and purer body, as the grosser chyle does that 

 of the crasser body, their companionship is therefore alto- 

 gether worthy the periodic pilgrimage to the sweet woods, 

 and the primeval camp beneath the fragrant and revered 

 ancestral oak — 



"That fills the liberal air with lavish odors — 

 There, let me draw, etherial soul ; there, drink reviving gales 

 Profusely breathing from the spicy groves and vales of fragrance." 



To dwell on all the natural objects at home among the 

 boughs, or the parasites and epiphytes that gem this or any 

 other oak, would be to write a volume; in a word, any one 

 who can intelligently pass the academic oaks, is well nigh 

 ready to graduate. In order to distinguish clearly one 

 species of Live Oak from another, or even varieties of the 

 self-same species, a task always more or less difficult, let us 

 carefully note a few particulars so as first to fix the Field 

 Oak type; then lay some stress on a strong point or so, of 

 striking difference, and finally, apply our facts to use, the 

 first and final end of all knowledge 



The young twigs, it will be observed, are short, hairy ; the 

 large, and larger, in a state of vigorous growth, smoothish, of 

 dull leaden hue; the general color of foliage, dark green; 

 leaves broadly egg-shaped, less in size, oval, somewhat heart- 

 shaped at base, often only obtuse; texture rigid and parch- 



