SANTA MONICA FORESTRY SUBSTATION. 351 



Fraxinus velutina, the common ash-tree of the arid Southwest, has 

 proved here a valuable tree for dry localities in California. It grows 

 rapidly, and in a few years makes a beautiful umbrageous tree, on dry 

 soil without irrigation. It leafs out early in the spring, and holds its 

 foliage until quite late in the autumn. It can be recommended as a 

 valuable deciduous shade tree for hot and dry localities, but while doing 

 well on dry soils, it will amply repay irrigation. Seedlings of this species 

 obtained by Mr. R. E. Houghton from this station in 1893, when only 

 a few inches tall, and planted by him on his Kern County ranch, in 1896 

 measured 20 feet in height and 12 feet in spread of branches. These 

 received some irrigation. Seedlings of the same age planted on the 

 station, and not irrigated, attained in the same time 14 to 15 feet in 

 height and 10 to 14 feet spread of limbs. The best of the latter now 

 measures about 17 feet in height and the same in spread. 



Quercus robur, var. pedunculata, the pedunculated English oak, with 

 typical foliage and fruit. This tree furnishes most of the oak timber 

 used in Great Britain; from it were built the *' wooden walls' 7 which 

 antedated the modern ironclad, and it still plays an important part in 

 shipbuilding as well as in other industries. Though naturally at home 

 on heavy, moist soils, this oak has grown well here on light, gravelly 

 soil without irrigation, and seems well adapted to our drier climate. Its 

 rapidity of growth as compared with our native oaks is remarkable, 

 and it is undoubtedly a tree which should be largely planted, where the 

 object sought is a supply of most excellent timber in a comparatively 

 short period of time. 



The Bamboos. The Japanese bamboos have held their own in the 

 main, in spite of the dry season, demonstrating their ability to succeed 

 without irrigation even on light soils, in ordinary years. For orna- 

 mental purposes, where a close screen, a dense thicket, or highly effective 

 clumps of a light color are required, nothing could be better than the 

 golden bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea). The canes of this handsome 

 bamboo also have some economic value. Though small and slender 

 (10 to 15 feet in height, and three quarters of an inch in diameter at 

 the base), they are tough, strong, and elastic; would make excellent 

 trout poles, and could be used in the manufacture of light articles of 

 furniture. The light, graceful foliage is very effective in floral decora- 

 tions. Phyllostachys aurea has grown well here, increasing rapidly, 

 without any care whatever. 



