THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 55 



pears to be universally known by the name here 

 given, — one of the few instances among the Oaks, in 

 which there is not more or less confusion of popular 

 names, so that there is no need of offering a specific 

 description of it. It is found in this State from the 

 coast to the mountains, but is most abundant in the 

 Middle District. In the Lower it avoids the barrens, 

 and is found chiefly on or near the borders of swamps. 

 It is only in the most favorable situations that this 

 tree rises to the height of 70 or 80 feet, with a diam- 

 eter of four or five. It is then, with its light foliage, 

 compact and even head, and straight shaft, one of 

 the most imposing trees in our forests. It is, how- 

 ever, seldom met with in our State having a diam- 

 eter of more than 2 feet, though I have seen stocks 

 here with a diameter of 3 feet. This is probably of 

 more general use, and more extensively serviceable, 

 than any other of our Oaks, it being valuable for 

 house frames, for mills and dams, vehicles, agricultu- 

 ral implements, coopers' ware, ship-building, and for 

 all purposes where strength and durability are re- 

 quired. The bark has been deemed by some tanners 

 as the best kind for preparing leather for saddles and 

 similar objects. It is sometimes used medicinally as 

 a tonic and astringent. 



The variety of this species known as the Scaly 

 Bark White Oak is distinguished by the thin plates 

 of bark that scale off from the trunk. I have not 

 learned if its timber differs essentially from that of 

 the other. 



