32 



OAKS. 



Quercus, L. 



The oaks may be divided into two general classes, namely the white 

 and the black oaks. The white oaks are those having leaves with 

 round lobes, not being bristle-pointed. The acorns ripen in one year 

 and are sweet to the taste. The black oaks are those the leaves of 

 which have bristle-pointed lobes. The acorns mature in the second 

 year and are bitter to the taste. 



Of the first class there are in Pennsylvania, worthy of being cul- 

 tivated, the following: 



White Oak. Quercus alba, L. 



Post Oak. Quercus stellata, Wang. Quercus minor, (Marsh.) 

 Sarg. See Britton & Brown, Vol. I, p. 520. 

 , Bur Oak. Quercus macrocarpa, Michx. 

 Swamp White Oak. Quercus bicolor, Willd. Quercus plata- 



noides, (Lam.) Siidw. See Britton & Brown, Vol. I, p. 521. 

 . Chestnut Oak. Quercus Prinus, L. 



Yellow Oak. Quercus Muhlenbergii, Engelm. Quercus acumi- 

 nata. (Michx.) Sarg. See Britton & Brown, Vol. I, p. 522. 



Those of the black oaks are: 



Eed Oak. Quercus rubra, L. 



Scarlet Oak. Quercus coccinea, Wang. 



Black Oak. Quercus tinctoria, Bartram. Quercus velutina, Lam. 



See Britton & Brown, Vol. I, p. 517. 

 Pin Oak. Quercus palustris, Du Roi. 



Spanish Oak. Quercus falcata, Michx. Quercus digitata, (Marsh.) 

 Sudw. See Britton & Brown, Vol. I, p. 518. 



All of the oaks will grow on poor soil, but since rapid growth of 

 oak produces better wood the better part of soil allotted to forest 

 should be given to them. The acorns mature in fall and may easily 

 be gathered from under the old trees. Those of the black oak class 

 may be sown at once, because of their bulkiness for keeping and be- 

 cause there is no danger from rodents. Those of the white oaks, 

 while they lose their power of germination very soon, but because 

 of the danger from rodents, should be kept until spring in damp sand 

 and in a cool room, or buried with sand in a well drained place. The 

 plants have long taproots and some suggest that the acorns be sown 

 at once in the plantation where the seedlings are to remain. If so 

 done, plough shallow furrows every three feet apart and drop the 

 acorns at a distance of every two or three inches in the furrow. For 



