They bear sometimes four or five Foot through
all clear Timber; and are the largest Oaks we have,
yielding the fairest Plank. They grow chiefly in low Land,
that is stiff and rich. I have seen of them so high,
that a good Gun could not reach a Turkey, tho' loaded with Swan-Shot.
They are call'd Chesnut, because of the Largeness and Sweetness of the Acorns.
{Scaly Oaks.}
White, Scaly-bark Oak; This is used, as the former, in building
Sloops and Ships. Tho' it bears a large Acorn, yet it never grows
to the Bulk and Height of the Chesnut Oak. It is so call'd,
because of a scaly, broken, white Bark, that covers this Tree,
growing on dry Land.
{Red Oak.}
We have Red Oak, sometimes, in good Land, very large, and lofty.
'Tis a porous Wood, and used to rive into Rails for Fences.
'Tis not very durable; yet some use this, as well as the two former,
for Pipe and Barrel-Staves. It makes good Clap-boards.
{Spanish Oak.}
Spanish Oak is free to rive, bears a whitish, smooth Bark;
and rives very well into Clap-boards. It is accounted durable,
therefore some use to build Vessels with it for the Sea;
it proving well and durable. These all bear good Mast for the Swine.
