The Turkey Oak {Quercus cerris) is a much larger tree, 
attaining to similar heights to our British Oak, but easily 
distinguishable by its more pyramidal outline, and its at- 
tenuated leaves. The lance-shaped lobes of these are unequal, 
sharp, and angular ; and the footless acorn-cups are covered 
with bristly or mossy-looking scales. The acorns, which are 
small and exceedingly bitter, rarely ripen till their second 
autumn. The whole tree — trunk, branches, and twigs — is of 
straighter growth than Quercus robur. It is a native of 
Southern Europe and the Levant, and was introduced about 
one hundred and seventy years ago. 
The spring rambler in the woods may come upon a party 
of woodmen stripping young Oaks of their bark, or felling 
them, whilst cylinders of separated bark rest across poles in the 
process of drying. This is the industry of barking for the 
purpose of the tanner. When the Oaks in a coppice are 
about sixteen years old they are most suitable for this purpose, 
the bark then containing a larger percentage of tannin than 
at any other period. The operation is best performed in May, 
when the sap is in flow, and should be completed between the 
first swelling of the leaf-buds and the unrolling of the leaves. 
If the weather is cold and damp the bark will peel the better, 
provided there is an absence of north or east winds. Before 
the tree is cut down the bole is stripped, the first ring being 
taken from just above the roots to a height of two and a half 
feet above. When the tree is felled, it is cut into lengths and 
the bark stripped from them ; then all branches that are an inch 
or more in diameter are peeled. The bark is piled to dry for a 
couple of weeks, and is then broken into small pieces and sent 
away in sacks. 
It is not alone in the use of the bark that the tannic acid of 
the Oak is made evident ; it is to the presence of this that the 
austerity of the acorn is due, and also the ink-producing 
properties of certain Oak-galls. Everything connected with 
