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.
{Bastard Spanish.}
Bastard-Spanish is an Oak betwixt the Spanish and Red Oak;
the chief Use is for Fencing and Clap-boards. It bears good Acorns.
{Black Oak.}
The next is Black Oak, which is esteem'd a durable Wood, under Water;
but sometimes it is used in House-work. It bears a good Mast for Hogs.
{White Iron.}
White Iron, or Ring-Oak, is so call'd, from the Durability and lasting Quality
of this Wood. It chiefly grows on dry, lean Land, and seldom fails of bearing
a plentiful Crop of Acorns. This Wood is found to be very durable,
and is esteem'd the best Oak for Ship-work that we have in Carolina;
for tho' Live Oak be more lasting, yet it seldom allows Planks
of any considerable Length.
{Turkey Oak.}
Turkey-Oak is so call'd from a small Acorn it bears, which the wild Turkeys
feed on.
{Live Oak.}
Live-Oak chiefly grows on dry, sandy Knolls. This is an Ever-green,
and the most durable Oak all America affords. The Shortness
of this Wood's Bowl, or Trunk, makes it unfit for Plank to build Ships withal.
There are some few Trees, that would allow a Stock of twelve Foot,
but the Firmness and great Weight thereof, frightens our Sawyers
from the Fatigue that attends the cutting of this Timber.
A Nail once driven therein, 'tis next to an Impossibility to draw it out.
The Limbs thereof are so cur'd, that they serve for excellent Timbers,
Knees, &c. for Vessels of any sort.
