OAK. 



41 



of oui' hardy trees and shiiibs. We have had this 

 kind, eighteen years old, equal in size to larches of 

 the same age in the same ground. We cut down 

 several of these oaks of about 8 inches in diameter, 

 and compared the timber and bark with those of 

 common oak of the same age. The timber was 

 clean, very tough and flexible, with much flashy and 

 we should suppose might suit for plank when ma- 

 tured ; at any rate, from the splendid shew of the 

 laminae (flash ), it woidd form beautiful panneUing 

 and furniture. It shmnk, however, extremely while 

 dr} ing, which must have been partly owing to the 

 quick growing and youngness, it thence consisting 

 almost entirely of sap-wood, and this sap-wood al- 

 most entirely of sap ; and, when left in the sun in 

 the round state, after peeling, rent nearly to splint- 

 ers, — much more than the common oak under the 

 same exposm-e. The bark was about double the 

 thickness and weight of that of the common oak of 

 equal size, and, in proportion to its weight, consisted 

 much more of that cellular or granular substance 

 most productive of tannin. The varieties of com- 

 mon oak with thick bark are generally of inferior 

 quahty of timber ; but they are by fer the finest, 

 most luxuriant growing trees, with rich heavy foliage, 

 and appear as giants standing in the same row with 



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