The oak is the commonest of the broad-leafed trees of this country.

The annual ring is distinct, there being a somewhat marked contrast between the spring wood, which is generally very visibly porous and small in quantity, and the autumn wood, which is wide, compact and of a darker colour than the spring wood. The medullary rays, especially the larger ones, are remarkably distinct.

The smaller rays are darker and much more numerous than the larger ones, which, when the wood is cut obliquely, give such a beautiful flowered appearance, making good examples of the carpenter's silver grain.

The smaller the medullary rays are, however, the stronger and more durable the wood. The prevailing colour of good oak is a bright rich brown. Inferior kinds are more or less red in colour, or are somewhat bleached.

The sap-wood is inferior to the heart-wood, but if the wood is straight grained it can be split into good laths.

In England two common varieties exist, the stalk-fruited (Quercus pedunculata), which may be distinguished when growing by the short stems to the leaves and by the long stems to the acorns. This species is sometimes also called Quercus Robur.

The cluster-fruited or Bay Oak (Quercus sessiliflora), of which the acorns grow in clusters with short stalks, the leaves having stalks about 1 inch in length. Some doubt, however, exists as to this classification, and this latter kind is sometimes regarded as a variety of Quercus Robur. There does not seem to be any very great difference in the quality of these species, though a prejudice has existed in favour of the stalk-fruited oak.

The oak gives timber which is remarkably durable under any circumstances.

In wet and underground situations it has been known to endure many centuries, and in dry places it has, when well ventilated, lasted a thousand years.

Oak varies very much, even in England, according to soil, care and attention from foresters, and other causes, but usually it is tough, hard, and very strong, and can be bent very readily when steamed.

The wood being handsome, strong, and plentiful is very much used for all purposes requiring strength and endurance, as well as for purely ornamental work. There are, indeed, very few requirements which oak cannot meet.

The chief defects of oak are - that it warps and twists unless well seasoned, it is at all times liable to the attacks of insects, and, by reason of the gallic acid with which it is impregnated, it corrodes metal fastenings very quickly, especially if in the wet.

The Durmast Oak, which is fairly common in England, is of a very inferior character.

Oak from Scandinavia is sometimes seen in this country. It can be recognised by its small size (usually in boards). It is generally of a dull pale colour, full of white streaks, and is inferior in quality.

Dantzig and Memel Oak conies from the Baltic ports generally. It has smaller medullary rays, and its figuring is not so large as English oak. It is bright and dark in colour, though not so dark as English oak, is prettily figured, and very straight grained.

Like the Dutch wainscot oak, from which it can with difficulty be distinguished, it is less liable to warp than the comparatively cross-grained English oak, but is not so durable.

Wainscot is another kind of imported European oak, coming chiefly from Holland.

It is very similar to that from the Baltic ports, and has a more lustrous colour than English oak.