DECIDUOUS ORNAMENTAL TREES. 
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here describe only a few of those which are most entitled 
to the consideration of the planter, either for their valuable 
properties or as ornamental trees, and calculated for plant- 
ing in woods or single masses. 
The White oak. ( Quercus alba) This is one of the most 
common of the American oaks, being very generally dis- 
tributed 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 de- 
pends much upon this circumstance. It may readily be 
known even in winter by its whitish bark, and by the dry 
and withered leaves which often hang upon this species 
through the whole of that season. The leaves are about 
four inches wide and six in length, divided uniformly into 
rounded lobes without points ; these lobes are deeper in 
damp soils. When the leaves first unfold in the spring 
they are downy beneath, but when fully grown they are 
quite smooth, and pale green on the upper surface and 
whitish or glaucous below. The acorn is oval and the cup 
somewhat flattened at the base. This is the most valuable 
of all our native oaks, immense quantities of the timber 
being used for various purposes in building ; and staves of 
the white oak for barrels are in universal use throughout 
the Union. The great occasional size and fine form of this 
tree, in some natural situations, prove how noble an object 
it would become when allowed to expand in full vigor and 
majesty in the open air and light of the park. It more 
nearly approaches the English oak in appearance than any 
other American species. 
Rock Chestnut oak. ( Q . Prinus Monticola.) This is 
one of the most ornamental of our oaks, and is found in 
considerable abundance in the middle states. It has the 
