The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-08-24
SLOW GROWTH OF THE OAK.
sixty Years Old Before Good Seed Is Pro
duced-Activity of the Roots.

The extreme limit of the age of the
oak is not exactly known, says the
Ohio State Journal, but sound and llv-
inc specimens are at least 1000 years
old The tree thrives best in deep,
tenacious loan with rocks IN it. Stag
nant water is one of its aversions. It
grows better on a comparatively poor
sandy soil than on rich ground imper-
fectly drained. The trunk, at first in
clined to be irregular in shape,
straightens at maturity into a grand
cylindrical shaft.
The oak does not produce good seed
until it is more than 60 years old. The
acorn is the fruit of the oak; the seed
germ is a very small object at the
pointed end of the acorn, with the
future root uppermost. The acorn
drops, and it's contents doubtless un-
dergo important molecular and chem
ical changes while it lies under its
winter covering of leaves or snow. In
the mild warmth of spring the acorn
swells, the little root elongates,
emerges from the end of the shell, and
no matter what the position of the
acorn, turns downward. The root
penetrates the soil two or three inches
before the stalk begins to show itself
and grow upward. The "meat" of the
acorn nourishes both root and stalk,
and two years may pass before It's
store of food is entirely exhausted. AT
the end of a year the young oak has a
root twelve to eighteen inches long,
with numerous shorter rootlets, the
stalk being from six to eight inches
high. In this stage it differs from the
| hn
from the tree. To watch these trans
formations under the lens is fasci-
mating occupation.
If an oak could be suspended in the
!, air with all it's roots and rootless per-
feet and unobscured the sight would
be considered wonderful. The activ.
ity of the roots represents great dea
of power. They bore into the soil and
fatten themselves to penetrate crack
in rock. Invariably the tips turr
away from the light. The growing
point of a tiny outer root is back o.
the tip small distance. The tip is
driven on by the force behind it anC
j of entrance When the tips are de
, stroyed by Instructions, cold, heat Of
!, other causes, new growth starts II
! varying directions. The first roots
thicken and become girders to suppor
! the tree, no longer feeding it directly
but serving as conduits for the moist
ure and nourishment gathered by thu
: outer rootlets, which are constantly
boring their way into fresh territory
These absorb water charged with sol
: uble earth, salts, sulphates OF lime
magnesia and potash, etc., whicl
passes through the larger roots, stem
and branches to the leaves, the labor
atory of new growth. An oak tre
/ may have 100000 leaves and from
June to October evaporates 226 time
its own weight of water. Taking ac
: count of the new wood grown, W
: obtain some idea of the enormou
, gain of matter and energy from tn
outside universe which goes on eac
. summer"
Oak timber is not the heaviest
r tou CHEST nor most beautiful, but
! combines more good qualities tina
any other kind. Its fruit is valuabl
9 food and it's bark useful in certain in
dustries. An oak pile submerged fo
/ $50 years in London bridge came u
, in sound condition, and there ar
specimens from the Tower of Londo
. which date from the time of Williar
r Rufus. To produce good oak grow
requires from 140 to 200 years.
q seems a long time to an American, bU
/ forestry is perpetual branch of ecor
: omics when once established.