COMMON EUROPEAN OAK. 
13 
the Oak could be advantageously reared ; but these fertile lands are more 
profitably devoted to husbandry. 
The American White Oak cannot, in my opinion, be regarded as an 
useful acquisition to the forests of Europe. Its elasticity which renders the 
young stocks proper for hoops, is doubtless a valuable property ; but the 
Chesnut of France is superior for this purpose, because it is more durable. 
The White Oak is used in the royal dock-yards of England, probably 
because it has been found impossible to procure supplies of European 
Oak. Perhaps it is employed only for the lower part of the frame, while 
the European Oak is reserved for the upper timbers. 
If the advantage in this comparison be allowed to be on the side of the 
European species, the Americans should lose no time in introducing it 
into their forests. To corporations particularly, whose property is Iqss 
frequently alienated, I take the liberty of addressing this advice, which, 
if followed, would be productive of great advantage to themselves and to 
the public. The analogy of the climates leaves no doubt of the perfect 
success of this tree in the United States, an example of which is found in 
the garden of Messrs. J. and W. Bartram, three miles from Philadelphia, 
where there is a large stock which has yielded seed for several years, 
and which continues to expand with vigour. 
PLATE I. 
A branch with leaves and acorns of the natural size. 
[See NuttalPs Supplement, Vol. I. pp. 16. 20. 23 ] 
COMMON EUROPEAN OAK. 
Q,uercus robur. Q.foliis petiolatis, oblongis, glabrîs, shiuatis ; lobis 
rolundatis ; fructibus oblongis, sessilibus. 
To the particular attention bestowed upon this interesting tree in modern 
times, is owing its division into two species, the Common European Oak, 
Quercus robur ^ and the European White Oak, Quercus pedunculata. 
These two species, which are much alike and are usually considered as 
the same, grow in the same countries, and frequently together. They con- 
stitute the greater part of the European forests, from the 60th to the 35th 
degi'ee of north latitude, overspreading a great part of the north of Asia 
and the northern extremity of Africa. They are most abundantly multi- 
