The oak is one of the finest and most useful of all our forest trees.

在所有森林树种之中, 橡树是最为优良、最为有用的一种树木。

Its height sometimes exceeds sixty feet, while the girth, or distance round the trunk, is often more than twenty feet.

它的高度有时候可以超过六十英尺, 而其周长——也就是树干一圈的长度——则能够达到二十英尺之多。

Its roots extend under the ground around the tree nearly as far as its branches extend above ground,

地下的树根在树木周围延伸的长度几乎等同于树枝向上伸展的长度,

so that an oak-tree is very seldom blown down by the wind.

因此, 橡树很少会被大风吹倒。

It is easy to know the oak from all other trees by the size and shape of its leaves, which are oblong,

我们可以根据叶子的大小和形状轻松地从树丛中找到橡树,

about three or four inches in length, and have irregular edges.

因为这是一种三到四英寸长且带有不规则边缘的长圆形树叶。

Each leaf has a short stalk; and if you hold a leaf up to the light, you will see that it is net-veined—that is, its veins¹ cross each other,

每片叶子都带有一个短柄；将树叶朝向亮光, 就会发现它具备网状脉结构, 也就是说叶脉彼此交叉。

and are not parallel like those of the leaves of grasses, or of the snowdrop or hyacinth.

这与野草、雪花莲或者风信子的叶子结构很不相同, 它们的叶脉是“平行脉”。

As winter approaches, the leaves turn brown and drop off the oak-tree.

随着冬天的到来, 橡树的叶子变成褐色, 从树上掉落。

When the tree is bare, we can see its rough, rugged² bark and its large twisted branches.

当树叶全部掉落之后, 我们就能够看到粗糙的树皮以及分杈的大树枝。

In the spring the leaves grow again, and in April or May little clusters of small greenish flowers appear.

到了春季, 橡树又会重新长出树叶, 而四月或五月时分就会出现一小簇一小簇的绿色花朵。

Soon the flowers drop off, and the fruit takes their place.

很快, 花朵凋谢, 果实长了出来。

The fruit of the oak is a small brown nut, which is called an acorn³.

橡树的果实是一种棕色的小坚果, 名叫橡子。

Each acorn grows in a little cup.

每个橡子都生长在一个小的杯状结构之中,

If we take the acorn out of its cup and soak it in warm water for a few hours, it will split open,

如果我们把橡子从中取出, 放入温水浸泡, 几个小时之后它就会裂开。

and we shall see that it consists of two thick seed-leaves, very much like those of the bean, having a tiny plant between them.

于是, 我们就能够看到两片厚厚的子叶以及中间一个小小的幼苗, 这种结构与豆子非常相似。

The oak lives to a great age.

橡树的寿命很长。

There are a few oak-trees in Britain which are believed to be more than five hundred years old.

在英国, 有些橡树的寿命据说超过了五百年。

But if the wood of the oak is to be used as timber, the tree should be cut down when it is from sixty to one hundred years of age.

然而, 如果要用作木材, 就需要在橡树长到六十到一百岁的时候将其伐倒。

Every year the stem of the oak-tree becomes a little thicker, for a new layer of wood grows all round it just under the bark.

每年, 橡树的茎干都会变得更粗, 因为树皮之下长出了新的一层木头。

When the tree is cut down, you can see a series of rings in the wood extending from the centre of the trunk to the bark.

当我们把橡木砍倒在地的时候就能看见从树干中心向树皮扩散的许多年轮。

Each of these rings marks one year's growth, so that they show how old the tree is.

每一圈都代表着一年的生长, 因此我们能够从中判断树木的年龄。

The wood of the oak is very hard, strong, and durable⁴ .

橡木非常坚硬、结实与耐用。

Oak was formerly⁵ much used for building ships, but most ships are now built of iron or steel.

以前, 橡树经常用于造船, 但现在绝大部分船只都是由钢铁制成。

This wood is, however, still much used for furniture, and for the strong beams of roofs.

然而, 这种木材依旧广泛应用于家具和房梁。

The bark of the oak is used in tanning, as you have learned in the Lesson on leather.

通过前面一篇有关皮革的文章, 你应该知道, 橡树的树皮还可以用来制革。

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