Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-12

The Indians are said to have expressed
an oil from them to mingle with their
food; perhaps, also, they ate the kernel,
which, though not agreeable to the taste,
is less rough and bitter than that of many
other species. The fruit is sometimes
very abundant, and it terminates with
such ease that, if the weather is rainy at
the season of its maturity, many acorns
are found upon the trees with the radicle
unfolded.
The bark upon the trunk is blackish,
hard and thick. The wood is heavy,
compact, fine-grained and of a yellowish
color. which deepens as the tree advan-
ces in age. The number and closeness
of the concentrical circles evince the
slowness of its growth. As it is very
strong, and ncomparably more durable
than the best White Oak it is highly
esteemed in ship-building, and it is con-
sumed not only in the country which
produces it. but still more extensively in
the Northern States. From its great dur
ability when perfectly seasoned it is al
most exclusively employed for the upper
part of the frame. TO compensate its
excessive weight it is joined with the Red
Cedar which is extremely light and
equally lasting.
The Live Oak does not afford large
timber; but its wide and branching sum
nit makes amends for this disadvantage
by furnishing Il great number of knees,
of which there is never sufficient guam
tity in the dock-yards.
The vessels built at New York and
Philadelphia, with the upper frame of
Red Cedar and Live Oak and the lower
| timbers of White Oak, are as durable as
those constructed of the best materials in
| Europe. Brekel. whom | have already
quoted, says that the best tree-nails are
of Live Oak; but at present it is re-
placed in the Southern States, by the Lo-
Gust and the heart of the long-leaved
| Pine.
In the South, particularly at Charles
ton and Savannah. this species is used
for the naves and felloes of heavy wheels,
for which it is far superior to the White
Oak; it is more proper, also, for the
screws and for the cOgs of mill-wheels.
The bark is excellent for tanning, but
is only accidentally employed.
Besides the Live Oak timber exported
to England, great quantities are used in
ship-buildng in the United States. par
ticularly at Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia and Baltimore. The consumption
has trebled within twenty years, in CON
sequence of the immense development OF
American commerce. Hence the price
has doubled and the species is rapidly di.
minishing. The clearing of the islands
for the culture of cotton, which they
yield of superior quality, has contribute
ed to its destruction. 1t is already diff.
cult to procure sticks of considerable
size in the Southern States, and they are
sought on the western coast of East
John. From st. Augustine to the cape
the species is rarer; but we are Informed
that it abounds on the shores of West
Florida, whittier the English of the Bahia
ma islands resort for supplies.
As the Live Oak from the peculiarities
of its construction. is multiplied with diff
ticulty, | cannot but consider its disap
pearance throughout the United State,
within the next fifty years as nearly Ger
tain. 1t will then be found only in the
form of "A shrub, like the QuercuS der
which formerly skrted the southern
coast of France and Italy.
Every individual that has access t.
government authorities in successive adj
ministrations should urge the planting OF
this most valuable tree. Since our au
thor penned the above remarks. great
havoc has been committed on our south
ern coast for want of government pro-
lection. The tree is produced in Texas
but from there also its disappearance
may be deemed almost certain.