INTRODUCTORY. XI 



The case of the deciduous White Oaks of Pacific North America is different. Al- 

 though one of these was, at a very early stage of its history and by a single author, 

 Sprengel, taken up as identical with an East American species, the extraordinary size of 

 their acorns, as well as marked peculiarities of leaf-outline, have prevented even herbarium 

 botanists from confounding them with Eastern species. 



But, as the botanical world has been learning little by little for some decades past the 

 curious points of contact between the floras of Eastern America and Eastern Asia, and 

 between those of Western America and Western Europe, it is not now so very surprising 

 for us to be told that the Pacific American Oaks, of the typical group, seem more like 

 their European than their Atlantic American kindred. As late as the year 1864, M. 

 Alphose De Candolle expressed a doubt as to whether all three of our principal Pacific 

 White Oaks, Q. lobata, Q. Douglasii and Q. Garrayana were not mere forms (not even 

 meriting varietal rank) of the European Q. Robur.' However, this most illustrious bota- 

 nist, while giving expression to his doubts, admits that a more perfect knowledge of the 

 subjects, the trees themselves, might remove the doubts; and, furthermore, he has at 

 once the wisdom and the magnanimity to concede that they who first named and described 

 the species in question may possibl}' have known more than he about them: so each of the 

 species which he most doubts, he gives the benefit of doubt, placing them upon his pages 

 as species, under the names that have been proposed, and with the descriptions which the 

 authors gave them. Even Q. Morehics^ then little known, and still less accredited by bota- 

 nists of the other side of our continent, is accredited fully on M. De Candolle's page; and 

 later researches are establishing the wisdom there was in his modest deference to the 

 opinion of Dr. Kellogg, the author of the species. 



There is no need that these introductory paragraphs should comprise a formal history 

 of our Oaks as they have figured in the literature of the science. The bibliography of the 

 species is given so nearly in full, that of each in its appropriate place in the body of the 

 volume, that any who may desire to consult authors, have there their index of author, 

 page and date. 



It is hoped that the treatise may be found useful to all who may wish to obtain infor- 

 mation of any kind concerning this important genus of our Western forest trees; and also 

 that it may serve students and amateurs in the double capacity of a help, and a stimulus 

 to further investigation. As already intimated, there is very much yet to be learned of 

 both the geographic and specific limits of our species; and also of the economic uses, and 

 probable usefulness of all of them. 



The field is vast. No one can explore it all. But one here and another yonder can 



'Prodr. XVI.' p. 23, umlcr Q. Douglasii. 



