Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-01-29


coach whips, which are braided and COW
cred 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 the Laurel Hill
Mountain in Pennsylvania, where it is
common, it forms the entire enclosure.
The bark is considered by many tan
ners as the best for preparing leather for
saddlers and other similar objects 1t is
little used, however, because in the United
Statesthe bark of the trunk and large limbs
only is employed and on these the cellu-
lar tissue is much thinner in the White
than in the Red Oak, which is. besides,
more abundant.
have been told that the bark yields a
purple dye. Though have not Witness
ed the fact, am disposed to believe in its
existence. as received the information
from persons residing several hundred
miles from each other. But if the color
WIS llot ucltClNc III pei hldhVhNc anu III
tensity, 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 fur
nishes slaves fitted for containing wine
and spirituous liquors. The domestic
consumption for this purpose is immense,
and vast quantities are exported to the
West Indies, Great Britain and the islands
of Madeira and Teneritie. The Post Oak
might. indeed, be applied to the same use,
but even in Maryland and Virginia,
where it is most common, it is not sulli-
ciently multiplied to supply the local de-
mand.
The Rock Chestnut Oak and the
Swamp White Oak in the Northern and
Middle States, the Chestnut White Oak
and Over-cup Oak in the South are com
pact enough to prevent the escape of
spirits and fine oils, yet porous enough
to absorb them. If they united every
requisite quality and were employed for
this purpose, they would be consumed al
less than ten years.
1t is well understood at Bordeaux that
the wood of the European White Oak is
closer grained than that of the American
species, land the preference is given to our
domestic growth, or to that imported
from Dantzic. The American Oak is eX-
clusively employed in Madeira and the
West Indies only because it is cheaper
and more easily procured.
White Oak slaves are exported from
all the the parts of the Northern ant
Middle States, and from New Orleans
Those which come from Baltimore. Nor
folk. and New Orleans, are far superior
to those of the Northern States: the diff
ference results naturally from that of thu
soil and climate.
The quantity of oak slaves exported t'
England and the West Indies appears, b,
two public documents that ] have exam
ined, to be considerable. In 1908, tn,
value received by England amounted t.
more than Sl4G,000, and the number o
slaves sent to the West Indies exceeded
30 900 900. | am unable to fix the pro
r portion of the two species of White ant
Red oak; probably more of the first ar
= sent to England, and the second to tn
colonies. The price of both has vare'
: surprisingly within hundred years. Il
, 1920, slaves for barrels were sold at Phil
adephia at So Il thousand; in lbs, a
} SIS: and in 1918. at $50. In August
t 1907, before the American Embargo, the
= were advertised at 500, and in April, lS0S
| after that municipal regulation becam
/ known, at 500.
The young White Oak, on account q
f its elasticity, is very proper for hoops
4 but it has less strength and less durabil
= ty than the hickory.
c Among the uses of this wood. tn
: most important is in shipbuilding. |
: allithc dock-yards of the Northern an
= Middle States, except in the district {
). Maine, it is almost exclusively employe
n for the keel. and always for the lowe
c part of the frame and the sides: it is pre-
fcrred for the knees when sticks of
e proper form can be found. In the small
e er ports south of New York, the upp'
r part of the frame is also of white oal
It but such vessels are less esteemed tina
IS those built of more durable wood.
k At Boston, the tree-nails, or the pin
e by which the side-planks are attached
l. the ribs, are of this species.
TO obtain correct notions on the con
If paratve value of the American Viii
h Oak and the European Oak, | consultC
V French. English, and American shi
wrights, in almost all the ports of Il
It United States. They generally agree
l. that the European Oak was tougher al
te more durable from the superior clOsene
a. of its grain, but that the American sp
N cics was more elastic and required
shorter time, with only half the weig
nj to bond il This odVantnpp so imnoI