Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-05-05
HOW OAK oRowa
20 Produce Good Grove Requires from
i4o TO goo Years.

TO Produe. "a Good Grove Requires from
40 to goo Years.
Tho extreme limit of the age OF the
oak is not exactly known, but sound
and living specimens arc ut least
1000 years old. The tree thrives
best in a deep, tenacious loan with
rocks in It, Stagnant wntcr IL one
OF its avcrions. It grows better on
q comparatively poor, sandy than
on rich ground imperfectly drained.
Tho trunk, ut first inclined to be ir-
regular in shape, strlightens at ma
turity into q grand cylindrical shaft
The oak does not produce good seed
until II Is moro than sixty years old.
The acorn Is the fruit of the oak; tho
seed germ is very small object at
the pointed end OF the acorn, with
the future root uppermost The acorn
drops, and its contents doubtless un.
dergo important molecular and chem
ical changes while II lies under its
winter covering of leaves and snow.
In the mild warmth Of spring the
acorn swclls, the little root elongates,
emerges from the end OF the shell,
and, no matter what the position OF
the acorn, turns downward. The
root penctratcs the soil two or three
inches before the stalk begins TO show
itself and grow upward. The meat"
Of the acorn nourishcs both root nnd
stalk, and two years may pass before
it, store Of food is entirely exhausted
At tho end of u year the young oak
has u 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 tho sapling, and again the sap
ling differs FROM the tree. To watch
these transformations under tho lens
is fascinating occupation.
II an oak could b. suspended in
the mir with all its roots and rootlets
perfect and unobgcured, the sight
would be considered wonderful. The
activity of the roots represent a great
deal OF power. They bore into tho
soil and ilatten themselves TO pen.
citrate crack in u rock. InyaTi.
ably tho tips turn away from the
light. Tho growing point Of tiny
outer root Is back OF the tip small
distance. Tho tip is driven on by
the force behind 1t and searches tho
soil for the easiest points OF entrance
When tho tips arc destroyed by OBJ
structions, cold, heat or other causes,
now growth starts in varying di.
rcctions. The first roots thickcn and
become girdors TO support the tree,
no longer feeding 1t directly, but
serving as conduits for tho moisture
and nourishmont gathered by the
outer rootlots which are constantly
boring their way into fresh territory.
These absorb water charged with
soluble earth salts-sulphates, nj.
trates, phosphates OF lime, magnesia
and potash, etc. - which passes
through tho larger roots, stem and
branches TO the leaves, the laboratory
Of now growth. An oak tree may
have 700, 900 leaves, and from june
to October evuporates 22G times it
own weight OF water. Taking account
OF the new wood grown, two obtain
somo idea OF tho enormous gain ol
matter urd energy from tho outside
universe which goes on each sum
mcr."
Oak timber il not tho heaviest
toughest nor most beautiful, but i
combines more good qualities than
, any other kind. Its fruit IL valuable
: food and its bark useful in certain
, industries. An oak pile submerget
for $50 years in London bridge cam
! up in sound condition, and there ar
specimens from the Towerof Londoi
3 which date from the time Of william
Rufus. Toproduce good oak grow
Y requires from 40 to 200 years, ]
:. seems u long time TO an American
!. but forestry il perpetual brunch Q
A economies when once established
|. Ohio State Journal.