DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
125 
lyn* The English oak is probably rather superior in these 
qualities to most of our American species ; but for ship-build- 
ing, the Live oak of the southern states is not exceeded by 
any timber in the world. 
Different species of Oak. This country is peculiarly rich 
in various kinds of oak ; Michaux enumerating no less than 
forty species, indigenous to North America. Of these, the 
most useful are the Live oak, ( Q uercus virens ,) of such ines- 
timable value for ship-building ; the Spanish oak, ( Q. fal- 
cata) ; the Red oak, ( Q. rubra), etc., the bark of which is ex- 
tensively used in tanning ; the Quercitron or Black oak, which 
is highly valuable, as affording a fine yellow or brown dye 
for wool, silks, paper-hangings, etc. ; and the White oak, 
which is chiefly used for timber. We shall here describe 
only a few of those which are most entitled to the consider- 
ation of the planter, either for their valuable properties, or 
as ornamental trees, and calculated for planting in woods or 
single masses. 
The White oak. ( Quercus alba.) This is one of the most 
common of the American oaks, being very generally distri- 
buted over the country, from Canada to the southern states. 
In good strong soils, it forms a tree 70 or 80 feet high, with 
wide extending branches ; but its growth depends much upon 
this circumstance. It may readily be known, even in winter, 
by its whitish bark, and by the dry and withered leaves which 
* The doors of the inner chapels of Westminster, it is stated, are of the same 
age as the original building ; and as the original ancient edifice was founded in 
611, they must consequently be more than 1200 years old. Professor Burnet 
in his curious Amenitates Qmrcinea observes, that many of the stakes driven into, 
the Thames, by the Ancient Britons, to impede the progress of Julius Csesar, are 
in a good state of preservation, “ having withstood the destroyer time nearly 
2000 years.” 
