Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-12-02
.ow GROWTH OF THE OAK.
y Years Old Before Good seed Is Pro-

" Years Old Before Good seed Is Pro-
duced-Aetivity of the Roots.
arhe extreme limit of the age Of
oak IS not exactly known, says
& Ohio State journal. but sound
"a living specimens are at least
BOO years old The tree thrives
s.st in a deep, tenacious loan with
.scks 10 1t. Stagnant water Is one
I its aversions. 1t grows better on
comparatively poor sandy soil than
rich ground imperfectly drained.
..he trunk, at first inclined to be ir-
slgular in shape, straightens at ma
thrifty into a grand cylindrical shaft.
10 The oak does not produce good
laded until ii is more than sixty years
Gid. The acorn is the fruit OF the
FAX; the seed germ is very small
Object at the pointed end Of the
4, acorn, with the future root upper
sanost. The acorn drops, and its con-
ftents doubtless undergo important
Pmolecular and chemical changes
swhile 1t lies under its winter cover
hing of leaves or snow. In the mild
warmth of spring the acorn swells,
the little root elongates, energies
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 grows upward. The
"meat" of the acorn nourishes both
root and stalk, and two years may
pass before its store of food is entire
" 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 it differs from the sapllng. and
again the sapling differs from the
tree To watch these transforma-
tons under the lens is fascinating
occupation.
II an oak could be suspended In the
air with all its roots and rootlets 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
fatten themselves to penetrate a crack
in a rock. Invariably the tips turn
away from the light The growing
point Of a tiny outer root is back Of
the tip small distance. The tip is
driven in by the force behind 1t, and
searches the soil for the easiest points
Of entrance. When the tips are de-
stroyed by distractions, cold, heat, or
other causes, a new growth starts in
varying directions. The first roots
thicken, and become girders to sup
port the tree, no longer feeding 1t d.
recily, but serving as conduits for
the moisture and nourishments gath
cred by the outer rootlets, which are
constantly boring their way into
fresh territory. These absorb water
charged with soluble earth, salts, sui
pilates of lime, magnesia and potash,
etc which passes through the larger
roots, stems, and branches to the
leaves, the laboratory Of new growth.
An oak tree may have 700, 900 leaves,
and from June to October eyap0rate
226 times its own weight Of water.
Taking account of the new wood
growth, eve obtain some idea of the
enormous gain of matter and energy
from the outside universe which goes
on each summer"
Oak timber is not the heaviest,
toughest, nor most beautiful, but it
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 $50 years in London bridge came
up LSsound condition, and there are
spec mems from the Tower of London
VIII sste-fFem the time of William
Ru Is. To produce good oak grove
reql&es from 40 to 200 years. II
seems long time to an American,
but forestry Is perpetual branch OF
economics when once established.