Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-28
THE SPREADING OAK.
How to Recognize the Species Grow
ing in the District.
LARGEST OF FOREST TREES
Among the Druids-Historic English and
American Oaks-Hundreds of Varieties
Some Peculiar Characteristics-A Simple
Lesson in Practical Botany.
witten for The Evening Star.


Written for The Evening Star.
NNHE FAMILY TO WHICH THE OAK
Il belongs is one of the largest of all our
forest trees It contains some 400 species and
is widely scattered over the earth OF the oak
itself there are about 800 different kinds and
they are found in the temperate regions Of
America, Europe and Asia, extend in the
mountainous regions to the central portions Of
America on the west and into the Malayan
archipelago on the east. They are entirely alb
sent from South America. from the whole of
Africa, except about the Mediterranean, from
Australia and from the Pacific islands. 1t is
not probable that the family can boast of any
great geological antiquity, both on account of
the number of species now living and Of their
variability.
In most Of the families having long history
the living species are but few, and these few
are Of rather limited distribution. The varia-
bility is one Of the most interesting peculiari-
Ties OF the genus One authority has stated
that OF all the characters used to separate the
various forms there is no one that is constant
and that while 800 species is the number usu-
ally given il is probable that twothirds of these
are only entitled TO the rank Of varieties.
AMONG THE DRUfDs
Oh france anu DIltdlu TIC Jan way shCEt1- 4ue
priests lived in oak forests and their sacrifices
were made beneath the trees Oak boughs and
leaves were used in their ceremonies. Every
thing which grew upon the tree was sacred and
considered as q gift from heaven. II Is said
that the mistletoe when found growing on the
oak was gathered with great ceremony on the
sixth day after the first new moon of the year.
Two white oxen placed in the yoke for the first
time were brought beneath the tree; then the
sacrificing priest, clothed in white garments
ascended it and cut off the mistletoe with a
golden sickle. Il was then distributed among
the bystanders.
OAKS ATTAIN GREAT SIZE
and great age. In England there are many
examples Of venerable trees that have histories
connected with them. One near Norfolk was
seventy feet around near its roots and forty
feet around little higher up. 1t was entirely
hollow and had inside of it a table and seats. 1t
Il said to have been a hoary tree in the time of
William the Conqueror, and has been estimated
to be /, 500 years old Another specimen is said
to have sheltered the Scotch hero, Wal
lace, and 800 Of his men. Its branches
1t one time covered Scotch acre of
ground, equal to more than 5000
square feet, but relic hunters have so reduced
II that nothing now remains but the trunk.
Another ID called the Greendale oak. In l724 a
roadway was cut through it wide enough to
permit Q carriage and four horses to pass
through The tree is over thirty-fve feet in
circumference, and is estimated to be 700or 500
years old Still another is called the Sidney
oak, supposed to have been planted to COM
memorate the birth of Sir Philip Sidney.
DICE rrRPIS's OAK
Is another, 90 known because the celebrated
highvayman Of that name was won't to take his
stand behind it when waiting for some belated
traveller. It boasts an antiquity Of several
centuries Pistol balls have been extracted
from the bark from time to time supposed to
have been fired by timid travellers as they
passed to scare away the bold robber. The
Royal oak once sheltered Prince Charles when
escaping after the battle Of Worcester in, / Go.
Although long since gone from earth Prince
Charles oak has been transpianted to the
heavens, and .'Robin Carroll is the name of
small constellation in the southern hemis-
phere.
Being Of slow growth the oak requires sixty
70 seventy years TO attain any considerable size.
Ordinarily its height Is from sixty 20 eighty
feet Pliny mentioned trees supposed to be
1.200 years old. In some Of the English parks
one b mentioned 900 years old, while Others
still a vigorous growth, are known from
records to be 500 years old.
HISTORIC OAKS IN AMERICA
are few. One, known as the big Tree" stood
ON the banks Of the Geneseo river, in western
New York. when Indian ami white first met. 1t
was revered by the Senecas and th-y named
their town from it. In 1857 it measured 26
mated 10 he ffs0 vears Ola 7. 49, d "rs essi
by a sooa in the rivsr Sr-;n. So,a,,he. ~
that year. Then there was
THE CHATTER OAK,
supposed to be over 600 years old when de-
stroved bv N storm in 1854 foo, fro,, a..
.-or,s ). -. - G. = 80. VIC
enee. II was.into a cavity in this tree that tho
Charter OF connecticut was thrust to prevent
tne petty tyrsnf Andross from securing II.
wnen. In 1851, he entered the assembly house
haruord- Inc OBJECTS OF ornament that
havS oeen made from the wood OF Charter oak
womb DC enough 70 make several trees like IL.
IN eAhiornia there are some magnificent ex-
s my Oh OAKS one OF these. known as the
n Joseph hooker OAK, has an Immense head
oranenes, covering circle sixty feet in
eiAmeNr, IN man! places through central and
soutIeIn SAni orhia are other large trees. worthy
% .uornins the PARK Oh any Engiish lord or
SP@hsh srandee: