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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION. 



bore acorns in 1897, and several are bearing in the present season 

 (1898). Deciduous oaks are easily moved when not more than 4 feet 

 high if well trimmed, and after a year or two of small growth make 

 new leading roots and grow fast. The tap-roots should be cut in the 

 nursery the year before removal. 



Many species of oaks thrive in the central Sacramento Valley dis- 

 trict, and here, perhaps sooner than in other parts of California, it would 

 seem that the planting of oaks for timber might be profitable. The 

 species indicated are (1) Q. pedunculata, Q. suber, Q. cerris, and other 

 oaks of Europe and Asia Minor; (2) some of the East American species 

 which have heretofore failed in many parts of California. The Japanese 

 oaks suffer from the sun. Our native species grow rapidly, but are of 

 inferior value for timber. In all, the station has tested or is testing 

 some forty species of oaks, and every year is obtaining others new to 

 the district. 



Next to the oaks, the ashes promise results in the hardwood forest. 

 The growth of our native species under cultivation is exceedingly rapid. 

 The ash is worthy of wider dissemination. Several new species of ash 

 were only planted out in the spring of 1898, and, therefore, need more 

 time to develop their characteristics. Fraxinus dimorpha, of Algeria, 

 proves, upon further acquaintance, to be a tree of slow growth, but of 

 especial beauty. It is often shrubby, like some specimens of the Eng- 

 lish oak, and needs pruning to give it a start. Other specimens are 

 beautifully pyramidal in shape, and would make attractive lawn 

 trees. The wood seems exceedingly tough. Nine species of ash are now 

 growing on the station grounds. 



Among other hardwood trees recently planted in considerable num- 

 bers are Celtis orientalis and C. Australis, also ZelJcova Jceaki. The 

 latter forms quite a grove, as well as being represented in the arboretum. 



Like Fraxinus dimorpha, some specimens are shrubby in growth, 

 while others grow tall and quite rapidly. 



The growth of Diospyrus Americana (persimmon) here is much better 

 than elsewhere in California, as far as noted. The growth of Cerasus sero- 

 tina is less satisfactory here than at the Southern California substation. 



Betula alba, forming a small grove, is listed in the table of larger decid- 

 uous trees. Smaller trees of later planting show the same adaptation to 

 the district. The three largest birches at the station are nearly 30 feet 

 high, with trunk circumference of 18 inches. These are in the aboretum. 



The largest Gymnocladus Canadensis in the arboretum stands 15 feet 

 high, with a girth of 7 inches. 



Rapidity of Growth. The following brief table compares several of 

 the best specimens of rapidly growing deciduous trees at the Chico 

 substation: 



