Thk Oak. 



' Evergreens. A collection of the whole of the sorts planted 

 on one spot would be a very curious object, and singularly- 

 pleasing to the eye ; but, in this work, it is my business to 

 speak of the useful only, and therefore 1 shall confine myself 

 to the three sorts of Oaks just mentioned. 



442. The White Oak {Quercus Alba) produces some of 

 the most valuable timber in the world : it is as strong as 

 our Oak, and almost as elastic as the Hickory itself. It is 

 made use of in the making of almost all the implements of 

 husbandry, in the making of coaches, in the making of 

 sledges ; and, in short, in the making of every thing where 

 great strength and toughness is sought to be obtained in a 

 small bulk. As a proof of its toughness and elasticity, it 

 is made use of for many purposes to which we apply whale- 

 bone. A piece of White Oak, sawed out of a plank, and 

 planed down to the proper size, makes a whip-handle ; and, 

 in America, the carters' long whips, which we make of 

 w^halebone, covered with leather or tarred thread, are made 

 of White Oak. My correspondent in America has sent 

 me a dozen of coach- whip handles made of this wood, first 

 sawed out of a plank, and then planed or turned to the 

 proper dimensions ; and one of these whip-handles, together 

 with a Hickory whip-handle, may now be seen at my shop 

 at Fleet-street. If I were to give a description of all the 

 uses to which this wood is put, I should fill half a volume 

 with that matter alone. The tree attains the height of 

 seventy or eighty feet, and it frequently rises still higher. 

 It is, however, amongst the least curious and beautiful, in 

 outward appearance, of the American Oaks. The leaf is 

 but small, and the shape and colour not very handsome. 

 I have found great difficulty in bringing the acorns of this 

 Oak in a sound state to England. The shell of the acorn is 



