
The Shade Tree of the South, nothing can compare to the MAJESTY of the OAKS — because of their 
LONGEVITY, everlasting beauty and RAPID GROWTH, the Oaks are now preferred to all other Shade trees. 

HOW OLD ARE LIVE OAKS? 
An article written by Mr. E. L. Stephens on this subject which 
appeared in the “‘American Forest’, a magazine of the American 
Forestry Association of Washington, D. C., outlines the story of 
approximately how old Live Oaks live to be. 
In this article Mr. Stephens refers to Live Oak trees that 
measure 18’, 22’, 27’ and even to one specimen tree that meas- 
ures 34’ in circumference. These large, spreading Live Oaks re- 
ferred to are found in front of Col. Boyd’s residence on the old 
University campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. However, the larg- 
est tree located to date is found six miles from Breaux Bridge 
west of the Teche and which is named the ‘‘Arnaud Robert Live 
Oak tree.’”’ This tree is 87’ high and has a trunk diameter of 
33’ and 5” with a spread of the top branches of 135’. This tree, 
according to Mr. Stephens’ article is, from all research made, the 
largest Live Oak tree in existence. 
Authorities on Live Oaks claim that these large Live Oaks 
throughout the southern states range anywhere from 200 to 1,200 
years old. The great British botanist, Hendy John Elwes, F. R. S., 
estimates that the largest existing trees in the South are fully 1,000 
to 1,200 years old. 
How old a large individual Live Oak may be when it is so placed 
that the probability is in favor of its having been transplanted 
by nature rather than by man is, of course, a matter of conjecture. 
Based upon measurements of many of the largest Live Oaks in 
the South and upon exhaustive inquiries, it has finally been con- 
cluded that under ordinary conditions a Live Oak tree measuring 
17’ in circumference at a distance of 4’ above the ground is ap- 
proximately 100 years old. This estimate is made based on native 
trees and with nominal amount of care and cultivation. 
One interesting story is told as to the general estimate on the 
life of a tree, ‘““‘The Crow Live Oak Trees’? which were planted 
in Lafayette, Louisiana, from the acorn now measure on the aver- 
age 13’ 6” in circumference at a point 4’ above the ground. 
These Oaks were planted by the late Basil C. Crow on his old 
home place in 1856. The place is now known as the Elmhurst 
Addition and these trees would now be 84 years old, which is a 
fair average for trees measuring 13/2’ in circumference. 
Similar stories bear out the general average of gowth of the 
native Live Oak trees, the estimates therefore are based on ac- 
curate dates and verified information but to say the least, we 
can come to the favorable conclusion that Live Oak trees are at 
least a long-lived tree. It is safely concluded that Live Oaks grow 
to be 1,000 years old in spite of the fact that few if any of that 
age and corresponding size are available today. 
It is known that up to a comparatively recent time old Live 
Oak trees had an immense money value on account of their use 
for the building of ships for the world’s navies. Where there are 
few large spreading trees still in existence, such as the Jefferson 
Island Oak, it is doubtless because of their inaccessibility, being 
placed beyond the ruthless hand of the ship-builders. 

News By Associated Press From Rouen, France, April 9, 1940. 
HUGE OLD OAK HONORED BY FRENCH 
CHURCH RITE 
The 1,200th anniversary of a great Live Oak tree will be cele- 
brated in the village of Allou-Bellechesse on July 2nd when 40 
children will receive their first communions in two chapels within 
its trunk. 
One of the two chapels contains a statue of the Virgin Mary 
presented by the Empress Eugenie. The second chapel, over the 
first, is reached by an exterior stairway, 
SOCIETY OF LIVE OAK TREES 
‘“‘Members Being Trees Only’’ 
In southern Louisiana Dr. E. L. Stephens was instrumental in 
founding a Society of Live Oaks—all members being trees with 
the one exception of Dr. Stephens, who is the only human member 
of this Association. 
Appreciating the real value and beauty of the Evergreen Live 
Oak Trees to the South, Dr. Stephens founded this Society in 
recognition of the 125 located Historical Trees. 
Qualification for membership in this Association specifies that 
a tree has to be ‘‘at least 100 years old’’ and is registered by an 
Attorney-in-fact, who supervises the member’s guidance. Natur- 
ally the trees attend no meetings but they do pay dues, the dues 
being 25 acorns each on New Year’s Day. These acorns produce 
young trees, which are distributed by the Junior League from a 
central location for beautification of the state highways. Each tree 
has a decided history and a name, such as “‘Lorna Doone’’ and 
“John Ruskin’’. 
Brother Oak ‘‘Locke Breaux’’ is President of this society, being 
the largest and the oldest member of the group with a 35’ girth. 
The member ‘‘Arnaud Robert’’ serves as Vice-President, with a 
close measurement of 33’ in girth. Each tree is required to have 
a guardian with power-of-attorney who protects it from ‘‘white- 
wash and Bill posters.” 
The progress of this Society since its original organization has 
been far reaching and especially under the direction of the Louisiana 
Conservation Department and those interested in the protection 
and preservation of these age-old trees. 
The Live Oak Association prepared and adopted a constitution 
and by-laws which represents an effort to perpetuate their organ- 
ization. Perhaps the Preamble to the Constitution will verify their 
efforts and it is repeated as follows: 
“Whereas the Live Oak is one of God’s creatures that has been 
keeping quiet for a long time, just standing there contemplating 
the situation without having very much to say, but only increasing 
in size, beauty, strength, and firmness, day by day, without getting 
the attention and appreciation that it merits from its anthropo- 
morphic fellow-mortals; and 
“Whereas it has been found that organization and publication 
are a good means of promoting influence and service in the world; 
therefore 
“This Constitution for an universal association of Live Oaks is 
hereby ordained and established.” 
WE SALUTE YOU AS LIVE OAK PLANTERS! 
Ex-Governor of Texas once said ‘“‘Do a good deed today for the 
Coming Generation to remember you by—Plant a Tree. You may 
not enjoy its shade and comfort, but think what it will mean to 
the coming generation?” 
To a part of the list we have furnished Live Oak Trees for 
planting, we salute as follows: 
riralk IMi Nfowiaie Tesueiey, IeXeeineiae coscocanacoaee 77 Omalinees 
S, Mb Ws Canes, IDAIES socusaschcocddoscneaade 137 Trees 
Texas State College for Women, Denton .......... 650 Trees 
iliexas States Mlighways in Landscaping "ss... 2. 1160 Trees 
Louisiana State Highways in Landscaping .......... 1420 Trees 
EiteraryaGlubyorsRortArthurallexas err ieeneicnecn ier 76 Trees 
Park Department of Port Arthur, Texas .......... 340 Trees 
URIMAISIiN? Gi? WEres, JAWS anooascocccoccungabuc 110 Trees 
Cemetery Planting of Waco, Texas .............. 210 Trees 
Country Club Estates, Wichita Falls, Texas... ..... 460 Trees 
Benevidas and San Diego Parks of Texas .......... 200 Trees 
Wii Sum bOnnenmestate ms 1OUSTChI meinen ier nnenenen nn en 36.Trees 
jl, Sy Si@latette| SEG, islet) acoabocacabeusueas 42 Trees 
U. S. Public Health Service Hospital, Ft. Worth ...... 296 Trees 
Kempner Estates, Galveston & Plantersville, Texas .... 94 Trees 
And others too numerous to mention in this limited space, which 
are equally as important as those above, 
