400 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



circumference [Prof. C. Koch]. The fruit when softened by age 

 can be consumed like that of the medlar [Prof. Naudin] . It serves 

 also for the preparation of a kind of cider. 



Quercus JEg-ilops, Linn.'-.* 



South-Europe, also Syria. A nearly evergreen tree of the size of 

 the British oak. The cups, known as Valonia, used for tanning 

 and dyeing ; the unripe acorns, called Camata or Camatena, for the 

 sanle purpose. Valonia is largely exported from Smyrna to London. 

 Greece used to produce annually 10,000 tons, worth as much as 

 18 per ton. The supply is inadequate to present demand. 31,376 

 tons of Yalonia, worth about 454,630, were imported into the 

 United Kingdom in 1889. Valonia (Wallones) produces a rich 

 bloom on leather, which latter also becomes less permeable to water 

 [Muspratt]. The ripe acorns are eaten raw or boiled. This oak is 

 also recommended as a fine avenue-tree. It bears considerable 

 frost. The wood is capital for furniture. Dr. Kotschy separates 

 Q. JBgilops into several species, of which Q. Grasca, Q. oophora 

 and Q. Vallonea yield the mercantile article. 



Quercus agrifolia, Nee. 



California and Mexico. One of the most magnificent and 

 picturesque among evergreen oaks, with dense, wide-spreading 

 foliage. The thick bark available for tanning. According to Dr. 

 Gibbons this tree attains a height of a. bout 100 feet, a stem-diameter 

 of 8 feet and a ramification of 125 feet breadth. Foliage nearly or 

 quite persistent. Woodcutters distinguish two varieties, one with 

 red and one with pale wood. It grows naturally near the sea, and 

 luxuriates in the deep soil of valleys, but also on the tops of moun- 

 tains. The value of its timber is not fully appreciated. Although 

 brittle when green and perishable if exposed to the weather, it 

 becomes almost as hard and strong as live-oak, if properly seasoned, 

 and is especially adapted for ships' knees. 



Quercus alba, Linne.* 



The White or Quebec-Oak. From Canada to Florida, west to 

 Texas. A most valuable timber-tree, becoming fully 100 feet 

 high ; diameter of stem to 7 feet, trunk sometimes 65 feet long to 

 first branch. Rate of stem-growth in Nebraska according to 

 Governor Furnas 29 inches circumferentially in 22 years. Attains 

 a great age ; succeeds best in rich woodlands, and is of quicker 

 growth than the English oak. The timber is pliable, most durable, 

 one of the very best of all woods for casks, also of first-class value 

 for cabinet-work, for machinery, spokes, naves, beams, plough- 

 handles, agricultural implements, carriages, flooring, basket- 

 material [Sargent] and railway-ties [Robb] ; it is also largely 

 employed in ship-building ; the young saplings serve for hoops and 

 whip-handles. The bark contains about 8 per cent, tannin, and is 

 used also in medicine. 



