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In 1860 the Commissioner of Agriculture sent a number of cork oak acorns to Don 

 Benito Wilson (now dead). He gave two acorus to Mr. Carpenter, a neighbor who 

 owned what is now the S. Richardson farm, and planted the remainder, perhaps 100, 

 in his own nursery. They grew fast, but were all destroyed the next year by an 

 ignorant workman, who took them for weeds ; consequently the two Carpenter acorns, 

 both of which grew, furnished the only stock in the valley. One made a tall, 

 shapely tree, and grew well until 1892, when it died, probably owing to too much 

 water and injury by visitors. The trunk of this tree was 21 inches in diameter in 

 1892; height to first branch about 15 feet; total height, 40 to 45 feet. 



The second of the original oaks still remains. A windstorm broke the top, but it 

 is recovering from the injury ; it is smaller than the tree above mentioned, having 

 been moved when 5 years old. It is now about 14 inches in diameter 3 feet from the 

 ground, and 28 feet high, the trunk having a height of 12 feet to the lowest branch. 



The finest cork oak on the Richardson farm is 13 years old. It is from the first 

 crop of acorns produced by the original larger tree. It has made a remarkable 

 growth, although, standing on a bank or bluff', it gets less water than the others. 

 It is now 16 inches in diameter and 30 to 35 feet high, with a spread of branches of 

 25 feet. The trunk is 7 feet to the lowest branch. 



The remaining trees range in size from 4 to 12 inches in diameter of trunk. 

 Thousands of acorns have been distributed from these trees in fruiting years. The 

 University of California has sent out several bushels at different times, and 

 Mr. Richardson has given so many away that it is said there are now not less than 

 1,000 cork oak trees of small size in the San Gabriel Valley alone. Nurserymen in 

 several places have also grown and sold them. The acorns germinate readily if 

 planted in the fall and let alone. When potted and petted they usually fail. 



Cylinders of the cork from the largest trees are on exhibition in San Francisco 

 and Los Angeles. 



It will be observed that Mr. Shinn's measurements indicate a much 

 more rapid growth of the cork oak in California than is usual in 

 France, which may be considered the best possible evidence of the 

 adaptability of the species to the soil and climate of that part of 

 California in which it has been tested. 



The first distribution of acorns of cork oak was made by the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture in 1858. These seeds were distributed in the 

 Southern States and California, and the trees resulting from them are 

 occasionally met with. 



Bark from one of these trees planted at Santlersville, Ga., is now on 

 exhibition at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. 

 Sandersville is near the thirty-third degree of latitude, and while the 

 tree has lost its foliage several times during severe winters it has 

 always leafed out vigorously in the spring, seeming to entirely recover 

 from the winter's injury. 



In 1892 the Division of Forestry secured through Thomas Meehan & 

 Sons, Germantown, Pa., two barrels of cork oak acorns, which were 

 grown at the Maryland Experiment Station. Through lack of proper 

 care comparatively few of the seed germinated, and many of the seed- 

 lings were badly damaged by grub worms. Sixteen packages of 

 seedlings were distributed in the States suitable for their growth, in 

 most cases to experiment stations. 

 3876-No. 11 2 



