The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-01-27
WRITES OF THE JACK OAK
Professor Gould of oklahoma Tells of
the Tree.


this month Professor Charles y Gould
Of the university at Norman thus de-
scribes the Oklahoma Jack oak: The
rivers in Oklahoma how southeast Be
ginning or the north they are: Arkansas,
salt Fork. Cimarron, North Canadian,
South Canadian. Washita and Red river
Throughout the territory these streams
average twenty-five miles apart They
flow across the red beds. which consist
principally OF red sandstone and shsle,
and constitute nearly al Of the rock II
the territory. The rivers, however. take
their rise in the sandy country Of the
plains in western Oklahoma and Texas
and have brought great quantities of This
sand from their upper courses. With the
exception of the Washita, which has a
deep and narrow bed. al these streams
have low sandy banks and channels vary
ing from 110 yards 70 half a mile wide.
with reference 10 general topography
and character of soil. the whole country
lies in zones or bands parallel to 10 the
course Of the streams Generally the
channel hugs the south bank. This causes
the sleeper slope to be on the south.
carved out IN red clay and sandstone By
the action OF the water North Of the
streams the slopes are ordinarily gentle
and frequently contain sand hills. on the
high divide between the streams the coun-
try is usually level and extremely fertile
So in travelling southwest at rieht angles
to the course of the streams one would
cross first a high level prairie. then a
gentle slope with some sand hills. then
the broad river bottom then a rather
steep slope more or less cut up with
canons, and finally the high prairie again
1T is the sand hin region Of the north
slopes of the different streams that the
tree which forms the title Of this article
is found most abendantly in central Okla
homa- Quereus Marylandica. commonly
known as jack oak. is quite common IN
the eastern part OF the.territory. In Pot
tawatomie, Lincoln and the eastern parts
Of Cleveland. Logan and Payne counties
it IS in places very abundant Along the
Arkansas ii occurs as far as the Kansas
line. In these eastern counties the post
oak is also quite common, as are a num-
her Of other species Of hard wood trees
From this main body of timber. which IS
the western continuation Of the Ozark
forest, narrow tongues of timber consist
ing almost exclusively OF jack oaks. ex-
tend for distance of from fifty 10 sew
eral hundred miles along the northern
slope Of the stream as indicated above.
Last summer while engaged IN a geo
logical survey of Oklahoma Z had occa-
sion to cross the different streams a num-
Der Of times and at various places I was
rfS f~fr .
tat OF this tree. and especially the most
western point at which II was 10 be
found on each Of the rivers Of the terri
tory. The result. as nearly as 7 was able
to determine If. IS as follows: On the Ar
kansas the tree extends into Kansas; on
the Salt Fork It grows as far west as tho
salt plains in eastern Woods county. ou
the Cimarron II occurs west Of Cleo iu
western Woods county; on the North Ca
madam it was seen al Curtis. IN eastern
Woodward county. and on the South Ca
madam the tree is said 70 extend through
Day county into the Panhandle OF Texas.
A lire drawn from the entrance into
Oklahoma of the Arkansas and South Ca
madam rivers would mark approximately
the territory 50 fas as noticed did not
observe this species on the Washita II
IS improbable that It grows on the upper
courses OF this stream on account or the
absence q sand hills In regard TO the
Red river. I am not able to speak def
nitely. never having examined The local
ity. but I have been informed that the
tree Is found on that stream
1T should not be inferred that sack
oaks are 70 be found at all tie places q
the north of these streams. Il often oc-
ours that no trees VII be seen for sew
eral miles. as for example az the oz-bow
bend Of the South Canadian ct Taloga.
but az this place trees again appear
few miles uD the river.
4The sand hills among which these
trees grow are ordinarily low. rounded
or irregular. enclosing numerous small
hasin-like depression which iH wet
weather sometimes catch water aud are
converted into miniature lakes Iu dry
weather these basins are geazF giadss
and on Account of their Appearance form
q pleading contrast T. the menoteny ~
the jack oak thlckets Tor these 81 nofh-
ing beautiful about jack oaE forest n
there f. anything more rnonot0nas it hsa
not been rnv at te Kan across o. lack
oaks IRE jack oaks the world over A.
Nays the same twisted back trunk. nith
scales ~ ragged bark laet rea8T o. fa1
ef the same dark eGeen pa8a eahsTsd
leaves. the same haN dead. arsrtlirz
3 tree and too rga for rspeetsas
ehr5b IN tbs sack e4k fimher ffs
graur5 covering 4 the same f9s- = ersnf
zraefH ~ bunch sas Few fau 1
.rs zlnHowers s1l ufner ve au- se