How to tell them from other trees:  The oaks are rather difficult to
    identify and, in studying them it will often be necessary to look
    for more than one distinguishing character.  The oaks differ from
    other trees in bearing acorns.  Their leaves have many lobes and
    their upper lateral buds cluster at the top of the twigs.  The
    general contour of each oak presents a characteristic branching and
    sturdiness uncommon in other trees.

    The chestnut differs from other trees in bearing burs and its
    bark is also distinctly characteristic.

How to tell them from each other:  There are two groups of oaks, the
    white oak and the black oak.  The white oaks mature their acorns
    in one year and, therefore, only acorns of the same year can be
    found on trees of this group.  The black oaks take two years in which
    to mature their acorns and, therefore, young acorns of the present
    year and mature acorns of the previous year may be found on the same
    tree at one time.  The leaves of the white oaks have rounded
    margins and rounded lobes as in Fig. 57, while those of the black
    oaks have pointed margins and sharp pointed lobes as shown in Figs.
    60, 62 and 64.  The bark of the white oaks is light colored and
    breaks up in loose flakes as in Fig. 58, while that of the black
    oaks is darker and deeply ridged or tight as in Figs. 59 and 61.  The
    white oak is the type of the white oak group and the black, red and
    pin oaks are types of the other.  For the characterization of the
    individual species, the reader is referred to the following pages.

[Illustration:  FIG. 57.—­Leaf and Fruit of White Oak. (Quercus alba.)]

WHITE OAK (Quercus alba)

Distinguishing characters:  The massive ramification of its branches is
    characteristic of this species and often an easy clue to its
    identification.  The bark has a light gray color—­lighter than
    that of the other oaks—­and breaks into soft, loose flakes as in
    Fig. 58.  The leaves are deeply lobed as in Fig. 57.  The buds are
    small, round and congested at the end of the year’s growth.  The
    acorns usually have no stalks and are set in shallow, rough cups. 
    The kernels of the acorns are white and palatable.

Form and size:  The white oak grows into a large tree with a
    wide-spreading, massive crown, dissolving into long, heavy, twisted
    branches.  When grown in the open it possesses a short sturdy trunk;
    in the forest its trunk is tall and stout.

Range:  Eastern North America.

[Illustration:  FIG. 58.—­Bark of White Oak. (Quercus alba.)]

Soil and location:  The white oak thrives in almost any well-drained,
    good, deep soil except in a very cold and wet soil.  It requires
    plenty of light and attains great age.