THE VALUE OF OAK LEAVES FOR FORAGE. 



The exploration in the course of which the data and samples forming the basis of 

 this bulletin were gathered, was originated by the Bureau of Forestry of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, with a view to a study of the forest resources of the region in 

 question. At my request, Mr. Mackie paid some attention to the pasture conditions 

 existing there, to serve as a complement to the previous exploration of Mr. Joseph 

 Burtt Davy in northwestern California, the results of which were published in Bulletin 

 No. 12, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Department. Mr. Mackie found some- 

 what unexpectedly that a large part of the actual nourishment of stock in the region 

 was obtained by browsing on the various oaks, and on his return I suggested to him, 

 as an interesting subject for his graduating thesis, an examination of the chemical 

 composition and nutritive value of the several kinds of oak leaves usually eaten by 

 stock. The results of this work, carried out in the Station laboratory, together with 

 the general information obtained regarding the importance of browsing forage as 

 against the rapidly deteriorating grass range, form the subject of this paper. 



E. W. HILGARD. 



During the summer and fall of 1902, while exporting a forest reserve 

 in the northern Coast Ranges, the writer noticed with surprise and 

 interest the eagerness with which leaves of certain oaks were eaten by 

 live stock. Having this fact in mind, many observations were made in 

 regard to the forage value of each species of oak occurring in the Coast 

 Ranges. These observations, while confined more especially to the 

 extent to which each species was eaten by stock, included also the 

 range or distribution, altitude, and mode of occurrence. 



Later in the year, in order to ascertain, if possible, whether these 

 observations indicated fully the real value and significance of these 

 oaks for forage, a chemical analysis was undertaken covering six species 

 of oaks and one of poison oak. Only those species were chosen which 

 occur on hills, ridges, and mountains where tillage is impossible; and 

 the object kept continually in mind was the forage value of the leaves 

 of the different species. 



It is the purpose of this paper to give in full the results of both 

 observation and analysis, and to discuss the harmony or lack of 

 harmony between the two. 



The ranges covered by the investigation are those situated in Lake 

 County, in eastern Mendocino north of Ukiah to Humboldt County, in 

 the western parts of Colusa and Glenn counties, and in southwestern 



