People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-09-09
SLOW GROWTH OF THE OAK,
sixty Years Old Before Good Seed Is Pro.
duced-Activity OF the Roots.

'' hedrs VIA before Good Seed Is Pro.
dueed-Activity OF the Roots.
The extreme limit of the age of the
OAK Is not exactly known, but sound
nVing specimens are at least one thou.
sand years old. The tree thrives best
IN deep, tenacious loan with rocks in
H. Stagnant water is one OF its aver
sions' 1t grows better on a compare.
lively poor sandy soil than on rich
ground imperfectly drained. The trunk.
at hrSt inclined to be irregular in shape,
Strengthens at maturity into a grand
cylindrical shaft.
Inc oak does not produce good seed
until 1t is more than sixty years old.
Inc acorn is the fruit of the
oak; the seed-germ is a very small
OBJECT at the pointed end Of the acorn.
drops, and its contents doubtless un.
dergo important molecular and chemi.
cal changes while it lies under its
winter covering Of leaves or snow. In
the mild warmth of spring the acorn
swelis, the little root elongates. energies
from the end of the shell, and, no mat.
ter 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
nourlshes both root and stalk, and two
years may pass before its store of food
is entirely exhausted. At the end of
year the young oak has root twelve TO
eighteen inches long, with numerous
shorter rootlets, the stalk being from
SIX to eight inches high. In this stage
1t differs from the sapling, and again
the sapling differs from the tree. To
watch these transformations under the
lens is fascinating occupation.
If an oak could be suspended in the
air with all its roots and rootless per.
feet and unobscured the sight would be
considered wonderful. The activity of
the roots represents a great deal of
power. They bore into the soil and
iiatten themselves to penetrate a crack
IN a rock. Invariably the tips turn
away from the light. The growing
point of tiny outer root is the back OF
the tip a small distance. The tin 10
driven on by the force Behind II and
searches the soil for the easiest points
OF entrance. When the tips are de.
stroyed by distinctions, cold. heat OF
other causes, a new growth starts in
varying directions. The first roots
thicken and become girders to
support the tree, no longer feed.
ing it directly, but serving as con.
Quits for the moisture and nourish.
ment gathered by the other rootlets,
which are constantly boring their wav
into fresh territory. These absorb wa.
ter charged with soluble earth, salts
sulphateS, nitrates, phosphates of lime
magnesia and potash, etc, which passes
through the larger roots, stem and
branches to the leaves, the laboratory
OF new growth. An oak tree may have
seven hundred thousand leaves, and
from June to October evaporates two
hundred and twenty-six times its own
weight Of water. Taking account of
the new woods grown, I'VE obtain
some idea of the enormous gain of mat
ter and energy from the outside uni
verse which goes on each summer
Oak timber is not the heaviest
toughest nor most beautiful. but il
combines:more good qualities than any
other kind. Its fruit is valuable food
and its bark useful in certain industries.
An oak pile submerged for six hundred
and fifty years in London bridge came
up in sound condition, and there are
specimens from the Tower of London
which date from the time of William
Rufus. To produce a good oak grove
requires from one hundred and forty to
two hundred years. 1t seems a long
time to an American, but forestry is a
perpetual branch of economics when
once established.-0hio State Journal