DESCRIPTION OF TREES SUITABLE EOR PLANTING. 67 



nearly equal to those of the white oak in the midland counties. The 

 twigging is rather coarse, angular and open, and the ample foliage, of a 

 pleasing dark bluish green, which in autumn becomes dull red. Trees 

 root easily and stand pruning well. Both foliage and trunk are free from 

 diseases. The large acorns, however, are some objection to street plant- 

 ing. The trees should be spaced 60 feet. 



Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), common on heavy upland soils from 

 Kaleigh westward, is a slender tree with light gray bark on the trunk 

 and branches, reaching a height of from 60 to 70 feet and an age of more 

 than 70 years. In young specimens and until well past middle age the 

 trunk is excurrent, and the numerous, slender, spreading, or slightly 

 drooping branches form an oval crown. With advancing age its excurrent 

 character is not so noticeable and the crown becomes of greater spread. 

 The branchlets are angled and the twigging is slender and well divided. 

 The tender green foliage of the scarlet oak is among the first to appear 

 of any of the larger trees, much preceding that of any of the other oaks. 

 When mature, it is of a bright glossy green and casts a moderately dense 

 shade. In autumn its brilliant crimson, which usually remains undulled, 

 renders the scarlet oak for several weeks one of the most conspicuous of 

 the trees. Occasional specimens remain green with here and there a leaf 

 or branch of vivid color until long after the frosts have deadened other 

 verdure. It is easily transplanted, though it does not root as quickly 

 nor always as successfully as the white oak, the red oak, or the Spanish 

 oak. It stands pruning well until very old. Acorns are borne in abun- 

 dance but they are not so large as those of the red oak and are not as ob- 

 jectionable along streets. Seedlings are easily raised. Trees should be 

 spaced 45 feet. Scarlet oak is known throughout this State by the names 

 of pin oak or Spanish oak. 



On account of its clean trunk, glossy foliage, brilliant autumnal color- 

 ing and the lateness with which it holds its leaves, the scarlet oak is one 

 of the most desirable, if not the most desirable, red oak for a street tree, 

 and while it is but little planted, there is no reason why it should not be 

 extensively used. 



Black Oak (Quercus velutina)is found throughout the State and is a 

 large and rapid-growing tree with habit and foliage quite similar to that 

 of the red oak in most respects, but inferior to the red oak for planting- 

 west of Salisbury. Many of the original large trees in the groves of 

 public grounds, etc., in the middle portion of the State are of this spe- 

 cies. With so many other choicer species from which to make selection, 

 the black oak has little to commend it for general planting. The largest 

 and tallest trees on the capitol grounds at Raleigh are black oaks. 



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