The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-08-17
How Oak Grows.

OE6 10 UOg OAoSbiy AuoWa3 S0e oouu~ oo0
living specimens are at least 1000 years
old. The tree thrives best in deep,
tenacious loan with rocks in it. 1t
grows better on q comparatively poor,
sandy soil than on rich ground imper-
fsctly drained. The trunk, at first in-
clined to be irregular in shape, straight
ems at maturity into q grand cylindrical
shaft.
The oak does not produce good seed
until it is more than sixty years old.
The acorn is the fruit of the oak; the
seed germ is very small object at the
pointed end ofthe acorn, with the future
root uppermost. The acorn drops, and
its contents doubtless undergo important
molecular aud chemical changes while it
lies under its winter covering of leaves
and snow. In the mild warmth of spring
the acorn swells, the little root elopgates,
energies from the end Of the shell, aud,
no matter what the position of the acorn,
tusns downward. The root penetrates
the soil two or three inches before the
stalk begins to show isself and grow up
ward. The "meat" of the acorn nour-
ishes both root and stalk, and two years
msy pass before its store of food is en-
tirely exhausted. At the end of a year
the young oak has root twelve to eigh-
teen inches long, with numerous shorter
rootlets, the stalk being from six to eight
inches high. In this stage it differs from
the sapling, aud again the sapling differs
from the tree. To watch these transfer.
nations under the lens is fascinating
occupation.
If an oak could be suspended in the
sir with all its roots and rootlets perfect
and unobscured, the sight would be con-
sidered wonderful. The activity Of the
roots represents a great deal of power.
They bore in the soil and hatten them
selves to penetrate 8 crack in q rock.
Invariably the tips turn away from the
light. The growing point of tiny outer
root is back of the tip small distance.
The tip is driven on by the force behind
it and searches the soil for the easiest
points of entrance. When the sips are
destroyed by distractions, cold, heat or
other causes, a new growth starts in vs.
rying directions. The first roots thicken
and become gi.dsrs to support the tree,
no longer feeding it directly, but serv.
ing as conducts for the moisture and
nourishment gathered by the outer root.
lets which are constantly boring their
way into fresh territory.
These absorb water charged With solu-
BILE earth saIts--sulphates, nitrates, phos.
phates of lime, magnesia and potash, etc.
which passes through the larger roots,
stem and branches to the leaves, the lab.
ratory of new growth. An oak tree may
have 100000 leaves, and from June to
October evaporates 226 times its own
weight of water. Taking account of the
new wood grown, 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, tough
eat nor most beautiful, but it combines
moze 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 in sound condition, and
there are specimens from the Tower OF
London which date from the time of
William Rufus. To produce good oak
grove requires from 140 TO 200 years. 1t
seems long time to an American, but
forestry is perpetual branch OF econo-
mics when once established.-Ohio State
Journal.