8 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



European Oak. Of this we have two species, Quercus pedunculata, 

 Ehrb. and Q. sessiUflora, Salisb. The first was planted in 1891, and all 

 grew well for about ten years, when some commenced to show signs of 

 decline. In 1889 only one specimen was planted of the second species, 

 which is yet growing thriftily, though in the midst of a thicket of Arbor 

 Vitse, Elaeagnus, and China trees. In the winter of 1902 and 1903 a 

 considerable number of young specimens (1 to H feet in height) of 

 this oak were planted (Plate I). They are all growing luxuriantly, 

 some having now (December, 1907) attained a height of 13 feet. These 

 two oaks, although long considered varieties of the same species (Q. 

 robar, L.) do not occupy the identical area of Europe. Q. pedunculata 

 is more northern in its habitat, while Q. sessiliflom covers Southern 

 Europe and Western Asia. 



Turkey Oak (Q. serris, L.) covers the same territory of Europe and 

 Asia as the last, and can be distinguished from it by the prominent 

 brownish, woolly stipules. Of this species several specimens were 

 planted in 1891. They grew well for several years, but are now ap- 

 parently at a standstill after barely having a height of 20 feet, from 

 which it is evident that the Turkey oak is unsuitable to our soil. 



Cork Oak (Q. suber, L.). This species is native of Spain, Southern 

 France, Italy, and Northern Africa. Michaux says, in his "Sylva of 

 North America/' that the Cork oak will grow wherever the Live, oak 

 grows. Like the Live 'oak, it is one of the hard-leaved evergreens; and 

 like the Live oak, it is transplanted with difficulty. Only one specimen 

 exists of the campus (Plate II). When this was planted, I do not 

 know, but most likely in 1893 or 1894. For several years prior to 1903, 

 I observed this tree to be almost stationary in regard to growth; its 

 main top having been cut off, it seemed to be slowly, but almost in vain, 

 trying to recuperate from the loss. In 1903, this tree measured six feet 

 in height. I did not see it again till 1906, when it had formed a new 

 top and made splendid growth in all its proportions. At the present 

 writing (November, 1907) this oak measures 16 feet in height and the 

 trunk 8-J inches in diameter. The bark of the trunk has a grayish 

 color, with fine streaks or spots of red, and is perceptibly elastic to the 

 touch, owing to the swelling cork. Our specimen is an odd beauty, 

 with a dense, oval crown of dingy green, holly-like, leaves and a stout 

 trunk, which, because of its color, reminds one of a granite column. 



Basket Oak or Cow Oak (Quercus Michauxii, Nutt). A native from 

 Delaware to Missouri and southward. A large tree in its native soil. 

 Only one specimen was planted in 1889, and this remained in a crippled 

 condition, due to early injuries, up till five yeais ago, when it began re- 

 cuperating. It is now a thrifty, growing tree and bids fair to reach a 

 good size and a long life. It is espec-ially a good omen that it was 

 able to revive after having been stunted for so many years. 



Burr Oak. Mussy-cup oak (Q. macrocarpa. Michx.) is found scat- 

 tered throughout the forests of a large part of Texas. It is one of the 

 white oaks with strong, compact, white wood, and flaky bark. It is 

 found in the situations of considerable aridity, but its preferred habitat 

 is the moist, alluvial bottoms, where it attains a height of 100 feet and 

 a diameter of three to four feet. Our specimens, planted in 1893, are 

 apparently sound and thrifty, but of slow growth, which may be ac- 



