10 
WHITE OAK. 
At Philadelphia, Baltimore, and in the smaller towns of the Middle 
States, the frame of all well-built houses, whether of brick or wood, is of 
White Oak. West of the Alleghanies, where Pine boards are not easily 
procured, the White Oak is substituted for the floors and for the exterior 
covering of the frame, notwithstanding its liability to warp and split. 
It is much used in the construction of mills and dams, particularly for 
such parts as are exposed to be alternately wet and dry. 
The wooden bridge, nearly 3000 feet long, that unites Boston and Cam- 
bridge, is supported by posts of White Oak, from 14 to 50 feet in length, 
which replaced those of White Pine, on which it originally stood. 
The excellent properties of this wood cause it to be preferred for a 
great variety of uses, among which are many articles manufactured by the 
wheel- wright. This trade is carried to the greatest perfection at Philadel- 
phia, and its wares are highly esteemed for solidity both at home and 
abroad. White Oak perfectly seasoned is employed for the frame of 
coaches, wagons and sledges, for the mould board of ploughs, the teeth 
of wooden harrows, the fellies and spokes of wheels, particularly the 
spokes of coach-wheels. In the Northern, Middle and Western States, 
the naves are also made of Oak, in the country ; but it splits too easily to 
be proper for this object. Except in the District of Maine, it is always 
chosen for the bow or circular back of windsor-chairs. The wood of the 
young stocks is very elastic, and is susceptible of minute division, hence 
it is preferred for the large baskets used in harvesting, for the hoop of 
sieves, the bottom of riddles, and the handles of coach-whips, which 
are braided and covered with leather; at Boston, it is chosen for pail- 
handles, and in Maine, for axe-helves. 
In many parts of the Middle States, the white Oak is selected for the 
posts of rural fences, and beyond Laurel-PIill, in Pennsylvania, where it is 
common, it forms the entire enclosure. 
The bark is considered by many tanners as the best for preparing leather 
for saddles and other similar objects ; it is little used however, because 
in the United States the bark of the trunk and large limbs only is employed ; 
and on these the cellular tissue is much thinner in the White than 
in the Red OaT:, which is, besides, more abundant. 
I have been told that the bark yields a purple dye. Though I have not 
witnessed the fact, I am disposed to believe in its existence, as I received 
the information from persons residing several hundred miles from, each 
other. But if the colour was not defective in permanence or intensity, 
it would have found its way into commerce, like the Quercitron of the 
Black Oak. 
Of all the species that grow east of the Mississippi, the White Oak alone 
furnishes staves fitted for containing wine and spirituous liquors. The 
domestic consumption for this purpose is immense, and vast quantities are 
