Oaks have played an important part in the history and development of our country. Their first important use was in the construction of the sailing vessels which were so necessary for the early colonization of the country and in defending it in the first war for freedom. The toughness of oakmade it of high value for the keel, ribs and sides of ships. Even aftersteel began to be used for ship construction, oak keels and ribs werestill used.
The large expanse of oak forests of the east and east central states must have been a sight to behold in the early days of this country. Only ameager amount of these vast oak forests remains, but the oaks still areone of our leading commercial timber trees. A few of the uses of oak areconstruction lumber, railroad ties, fuel, fence posts, mine props,flooring, furniture, ships and boats, tool handles, railroad cars,interior trim, barrels and kegs.
The oaks are among our largest eastern forest trees. The oak family isdivided into two groups, the white oak group and the red oak group. Thewhite oak group contains such species as the white, bur, swamp white, chinkapin, overcup and post oak, all of whichgrow in Iowa. The red oak group contains the red, black, scarlet,black jack, Northern pin (Hills), pin and shingle oak. All of these are native to Iowa. It is often difficult to distinguish definitely between some of the oaksof the same group.