4 80 SOILS. 



Timber and Shade Trees. 



Of trees, forest and shade, suitable for alkali lands, some 

 native ones call for mention. One is the California white or 

 valley oak (Quercus lobata), which forms a dense forest of 

 large trees on the (almost throughout somewhat alkaline) 

 delta lands of the Kaweah River in California, and is found 

 scatteringly all over the San Joaquin Valley. Unfortunately 

 this tree does not supply timber valuable for aught but fire- 

 wood or fence posts, being quite brittle. 



The native cottonwoods, while somewhat retarded and 

 dwarfed in their growth in strong alkali, are quite tolerant of 

 the white salts, especially of Glauber's salt. As they usually 

 grow, near to the water, their tolerance for alkali salts is diffi- 

 cult to ascertain. 



Of other trees, the oriental plane, or sycamore, and the black 

 locust have proved the most resistant in the alkali lands of the 

 San Joaquin Valley ; and the former being a very desirable 

 shade tree, it should be widely used throughout the regions 

 where alkali prevails more or less. The ailantus is about 

 equally resistant, and but for the evil odor of its flowers, de- 

 serves strong commendation. 



Of the eucalypts, the narrow-leaved Eucalyptus amygdalina 

 (one of the "red gums") and the closely related viminalis, 

 seem to be least sensitive, and in some cases have grown in 

 alkali lands as rapidly as anywhere. The rostrata, as well as 

 the pink flowered variety of sideroxylon, are now doing about 

 as well as the amygdalina at Tulare, where at first they seemed 

 to suffer. The common blue gum, globulus, is much more 

 sensitive. 



Of the Acacias, the tall-growing A. melanoxylon ("black 

 acacia ") resists pretty strong alkali, even on stiff soil; as can 

 be seen at Tulare and Bakersfiekl,. California, where there are 

 trees nearly two feet in diameter. The beautiful A. lophantha 

 (Albiczia) has in plantings made along the San Joaquin Valley 

 railroad shown considerable resistance, likewise; but it is quite 

 sensitive to frost. 



Of other Australian trees, one of the Australian " pines," 

 (Casuarina cquisetifolia}, is doing well on fairly strong alkali 

 land in the San Joaquin Valley. 



