Читать книгу Trees, Shown to the Children - C. E. Smith - Страница 10

Plate II

THE BEECH

1. Beech Tree in Autumn2. Leaf Spray3. Bud

4. Buds in Winter5. Seed Flower6. Stamen Flower

7. Fruit8. Fruit when Ripe

The wood of an Oak tree lasts very long: there are Oak beams in houses which are known to be seven hundred years old, and which are as good as the day they were cut. For centuries our ships were built of Oak, the wooden walls of old England, hearts of Oak, as they have often been called, because Oak wood does not readily splinter when struck by a cannon ball. And Oak wood will not quickly rot: we know of piles which have been driven into river beds centuries ago and are still sound and strong. In pulling down an old building lately in London, which was built six hundred and fifty years ago, the workmen found many oak piles in the foundations, and these were still quite sound.