l8 WEST AMERICAN OAKS. 



rural districts as the Blue Oak. Its wood makes good fuel, and, according to Dr. Kellogg, 

 it has attained some reputation as material for wagon spokes, hubs and axles; but for these 

 latter uses the timber of Q. IVislizeni, which grows in the same localities, is preferred. 



The figure i of Plate IX is the only one hitherto published, which represents correctly 

 the acorn of this species, as it appears in full maturity. That in Hooker's Icones exhib- 

 its them less than half grown ; and Nuttall in the Sylva has merely reproduced the plate 

 of Hooker : both have mistaken the acorns for full-grown ones, and have accordingly de- 

 scribed them as "ovate." They are, in point of fact, the largest produced by any North 

 American oak ; being but little shorter than those of Q. lobata, and much thicker. The 

 figure 3 of this Plate IX Dr. Kellogg has associated with his best illustration of Q. Doug- 

 lasti^ and he regarded his as referable to this species. In my judgment it is better referred 

 to Q. Engelmanni on account of its acorns as much as the leaves. The specimen is from 

 Tehachapi Pass, in the mountains of Kern County, the locality at which Q. Douirlasii of 

 the north and Q. Engelmanni of the south, appear to meet. Dr. Engelmann, in the Botany 

 of California, made a guess that the Q. Ransomi^ Kellogg, was Q. lobata ; but Dr. Kellogg 

 himself had, as long ago as 1865, identified his species with Q. Doiiglasii, and had pub- 

 lished a note to that effect." 



'Trans. Calif. State Agric. Soc, 1864-5. P- 'S8- 



