The Shilt_cdo or Laurel Oak, imbric(t)'iq„ grows to he a large tree in the central states. It is of a wayward, irregular habit, but is a handsonle tree \\lien with its briclit folituEe• The leaves are narrowly oval, and entire in nial•in, resembling the leaves of the mountain laurel.
The qtk, ()wows P1•/ Iris. is handsome tree. easily distill from others its willmv like It luts slender, em.er, drooping 11i(1 grolvs hest near Nvater. lt is found from Neu- to Horida„ and in Texas. It is popu lar us shade tier in sulttliorn cities.
The "oak fipples." found upon the leaves of many species of oak, havff always been a. source of wonder tfo people. Some still think them seed balls like those that grow on the tops of potatoes. They are abnormal groNyths, each caused by a single insect that feeds and develops inside 111)111 an egg laid ill the soft leaf tissues early in spring. \ strange fact is that each one of many types of these oak apples is made by a distinct, species of gall insect. There is no variableness. Each one keeps to its ()WI] pattern.
These galls are 1111(re likely to abound on young trees. Perhaps it was this fact that justified the old herbalist, John Gerard. in describing the tree" as "a kinde of oke." The quotation is copied from his description : The oke apples being broken in sunder affout the time of their withering doe foreshow the sefitiell of the veare, as the expert IKentish husbandmen have observed. by the living thin;rs found in them: as if they tinde an ant. they fore tell plenty graine, to ensue: if a. white worm like a gentill or magot, then they prognosticate imirren of beasts and eat tell: if a spider. then (say they ) we shall have a pestilence. or some such like sickeuesse to follow amoivst men: these tldn:Js the learned also have observed, and noted that before they have an hole through them, they containe in them either a Hie, spider, or a worme; if a tlie, then warre ensued); if a creeping worme. then searcitie of victuals; i1 a spider. then followeth great sickenosse or mortalitie."