Show Old Oaks Pres Preserved By Louisiana Society Great oaks from membership fees grow row when the fee Is U 25 acorns a year ear at as It U is in the unique Live LiveOak LiveOak Oak ak society which flourishes In Lou Lou- slana Under the constitution of the society solely so so- lely clety organized by Dr Edwin L. L Stephens president of the Southwestern Southwestern South South- western Louisiana Institute at Lafayette La- La fayette the membership roll In In- eludes ludes only live oaks or more years rears old and the owner or other Interested person must pay annual dues lues of 25 acorns from each tree The dues are planted In the live II liveoak liveoak oak nursery of the Institute farm to aid In the propagation of these distinctive distinctive dis- dis giants of the southern state stale Many of the beautiful oaks with long ong beards blards of Spanish moss which trail rail between New Orleans and La La- fayette are charter charier members of the society as most of them are more than ban a century old The original president of the society was the Locke Breaux oak at Hahnville with witha a circumference of 33 35 feet and a spread of feet The Seven Sisters oak at Lewisburg Lewis Lewis- burg however also lays claim to the he distinction of being the largest tree Iree and therefore entitled to theoffice the theoffice office orrice of the presidency This tree is considered the most Imposing live liveoak liveoak liveoak oak spectacle In Louisiana with a 8 circumference of 36 feet flet and a huge spread but it Is evidently a 8 cluster of six or seven trees I close together together together to to- gether rather than one tree Scores of other trees are members members mem memo bers In iii the society and each year new ones are being added ai as they attain the proper age Last year the beautiful avenue of live oaks known as Oak Alley AUlY situated on the Mississippi Mis river In St. St James parish was taken into the society This distinction again is challenged challenged chal chal- by the Versailles oaks located located ed at Chalmette where the battle of New Orleans was fought in the War of 1812 The 79 trees in this grove were planted by Pierre DenIs Den Is de la Ronde former owner of the Versailles plantation |