Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12
Continued.
1.-THE NORTH AMERl'
CAN SYLVIA"
SMALL CHESTNUT OAK.

SMALL CHESTNUT OAK.
In the Northern and Middle States this
pretty little species is called Small or
Dwarf Chestnut Oak. from the resem-
blance of its leaves to those of the Rock
Chestnut Oak as there is also likeness
between its foliage and that of the Chinca-
pin. 1t is known in East Tennessee and
in the upper part of the Carolinas by the
name of Chincapin Oak.
The Small Chestnut Oak is not gener-
ally diflused. but it is rare in many places
adapted to its constitution. and is usually
found in particular districts, where,
alone or mingled with the Bear Oak. it
sometimes covers tracts of more than a
hundred acres. The presence of these
species is certain proof of the barren
ness of the soil. have particularly OBJ
served the Small Chestnut Oak in the
vicinity of Providence in Rhode Island.
of Albany in New York. of Knoxville in
Tennessee and on the Allegheny noun
tains in Virginia. 1t grows spontaneous
/ ly in the park of Mr.. W. Hamilton. near
Philadelphia,
This species. and another which is
found in the pine forests of the Southern
States, rarely exceed thirty inches in
/ height they are the most diminutive of
the American Oaks. and are mentioned
only to complete the series.
The leaves of the Small Chestnut Oak
are oval-acuminate. regularly but not
deeply denticulated. of light green
above and whitish beneath. The acorns
are enclosed for one third of their length
in Scaly sessile cups: they are of middle
size. somewhat elongated. similarly
rounded at both ends. and very sweet.
Nature seems to have sought IA compen-
sation for the diminutive size of this
shrub in the abundance of its fruit: the
stem. which is sometimes no bigger than
a quill, is stretched at full length upon the
ground by the weight of the thiclily-clus-
tering acorns. United with the Bear Oak
which is of the same size and equally
prolific. perhaps it might be cultivated
with advantage for its fruits.
LIVE OAK.
This species, which is confined to the
the Flordas, and Louisiana. is known
only by the name of Live Oak. The
climate becomes mild enough for its
growth near Norfolk in Virginia, though
/. Tod nd via
than in more southern latitude. From
Norfolk it spreads along the coast for IA
distance of 1900 or 1900 miles, extending
beyond the mouth of the Mississippi
The sea air seems essential to its cXiS.
tence. for it is rarely found in the forests
upon the mainland and never more than
fifteen or twenty miles from the shore.
1t is the most abundant. the most fully
developed and of the best quality about
the bays and creeks and on the fertile
islands which in great numbers lie scat
tered for several hundred miles along
the coast. particularly observed it on
the islands of ST. Simon. Cumberland
Sapelo. etc, between the st. John and
the ST. Mary. in an excursion of 400 or
800 miles in a canoe from Cape Canaveral
in East Florida To savannah in Georgia.
frequently saw it upon the beach. or
half buried in the movable sand upon the
downs. where it had preserved its fresh
ness and vigor. though exposed during a
long lapse of time to the fury of the win
a. .,e u,
mer's sun.
The Live Oak is commonly forty or
forty-tive feet height and from one to two
feet in diameter: but it is sometimes much
larger. Mr.. s., president of the agricul-
tural society of Charleston, assured me
that he felled "A trunk. followed by age,
which was n feet in circumference.
Like most other trees. it has, when insu-
lated, wide and tufted summit. Its
trunk is sometimes undivided for Is or
20 feet, but often Families at half this
height, and AT distance has the appear
ance of an old apple-tree or pear-tree.
The leaves are oval, coriaceous, of dark
green above and whitsh beneath; they
persist through several years and are
partially renewed every spring. On trees
reared upon plantations, or growing in
cool soils, they are one-half larger, and
are often denticulated; upon stocks of
two or three years they are commonly
very distinctly toothed.
The acorns are of an elongated oval
form nearly black and contained i'm