IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 273 



China and Nepal. A good avenue-tree, though deciduous. 

 It yields the best food for the Oak Silkworm (Bombyx 

 Yamamai) . 



Quercus Sideroxylon, Humboldt. 



Mountains of Mexico, at 8,000 feet elevation. An Oak of 

 great size, of compact timber, almost imperishable in water. 

 Q. lanceolata, Q. chrysophylla, Q. reticulata, Q. laurina, Q. 

 obtusata, Q. glaucescens, Q. Xalapensis (Humb.), and Q. 

 acutifolia (Nee) are among the many other highly important 

 timber Oaks of the cooler regions of Mexico. No printed 

 records seem extant concerning the technology of the numer- 

 ous Mexican Oaks, though doubtless their respective values 

 are well known to local artisans. According to the abbe and 

 surgeon Liturgie, one of the Mexican Oaks near San Juan 

 nourishes a Bombyx the cocoons of which are spun by the 

 natives into silk (Tschichatchef ) . 



Quercus Skinneri, Bentham. 



Mexico. The acorns of this Oak measure nearly 6 inches 

 in circumference, and are available for various domestic 

 animals. 



Quercus squamata, Roxburgh. 



One of the tallest of the Himalayan Oaks. Wood lasting. 



Quercus stellata, Wangenheim. 



The Post Oak of North-East America. Content with poor 

 and even sandy soil, but not a large tree. For its very 

 durable and dense wood it is much in requisition there for 

 posts, and is particularly highly prized for ship -building. 



Quercus Suber, Linne. 



The Cork Oak of South Europe and North Africa ; evergreen. 

 It attains an age of fully two hundred years. After about 

 twenty years it can be stripped of its bark every six or seven 

 years ; but the best cork is obtained from trees over forty years 

 old. Height of tree about 40 feet. Acorns of sweetish taste. 

 Mr. Robinson found that young Cork Oaks obtained from the 

 writer made a growth of 4 feet in a year in the humid 

 Western Port district of Victoria. The bark of Q. pseudo- 

 suber (Sant.) is inferior for cork, but the closely-allied Q. 

 occidentalis (Gay), which is hardier than Q. Suber, produces 

 a superior cork -bark. 



