FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 281 



almost to Brentwood. Santa Clara County: Santa Clara Valley southward to Gilroy ; 

 also on lower slopes of Mount Hamilton. Ban \lat<<) and Santa Cruz counties: Between 

 south end of San Francisco Kay and base of the Santa Cruz Mountains: east base of 

 hills west of Palo Alto and southward. Ban Benito County: San Juan Valley, particu- 

 larly borders and foot of surrounding hills; common in San Benito and Bear valleys 

 from San Benito southward; also in Dry Lake Valley. Monterey County: Not in Monte- 

 rey region nor on coast; nor in lower part of Salinas Valley below Kings City, and prob- 

 ably not for some miles above Kings City, but common in hot interior valleys ; Santa 

 Lucia Mountains (Monterey National Forest), at 500 to nearly 5,000 feet elevation on 

 watersheds of Sur, Carmelo, Arroyo Seco. San Antonio, and Nacimiento rivers ; noted in 

 upper part Arroyo Seco and Reverse Canyon; also on Milpitas Creek from foot of Santa 

 Lucia Peak southward to old San Antonio Mission and Jolon ; thence to Danl Ranch: 

 San Luis Obispo National Forest, at 400 to 2,500 feet in Carriso, Salinas, Santa Mar- 

 garita. San Luis, Arroyo Grande, and Iluasna river basins; not on dry Tulare Flains 

 to east in San Joaquin Valley, except in protected localities, where it ascends a few 

 Sierra foothill streams to 3,250 feet ; on basal slopes of Bear Mountain and eastward 

 to Caliente ; from Caliente to Tehachapi Valley; west end of Tehachapi Valley; about 

 the borders of Cummiims Valley (west of Tehachapi), and thence northwestward down 

 mountains to plain ; at Tejon Ranch and along Tejon Creek ; in Canada de las Uvas from 

 Libre Ranch to Fort Tejon (elevation. 3,173 feet) and to Castae Lake; also in Antelope 

 Valley (east of Tehachapi Mountains), the west end of Mohave Desert. One of the 

 most important oaks in Santa Barbara Mountains at 100 to 4,500 feet, but only in Santa 

 Maria. Santa Ynez. Newhall, and Elizabeth river valleys and in Ojai Valley; vicinity of 

 Los Angeles, in Chatsworth Park, and at San Fernando ; on Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz 

 islands. 



OCCURRENCE. 



In low valleys (both narrow and broad) and rolling low plateaus; in fresh, rich, 

 loamy soil, or, less commonly, in dry, gravelly soil. 



In pure, very open (often distantly scattered i stands; largest in deep alluvial soils. 

 On borders of valleys with blue oak. 



( 'i.i math' Conditions. — Similar to those of California live oak, but under less imme- 

 diate influence of sea. 



Tolerance. — Endures considerable shade in youth, and shows tolerant qualities when 

 old, but essentially light needing. 



REPRODUCTION. — Very prolific seeder at intervals of about two years. Reproduction 

 exceedingly scanty, due probably to the fact that trees grow on grass-covered, pastured, 

 or wheat land, the surface of which is rarely broken where the mast falls. Seed germi- 

 nates readily when well covered in fresh litter or soil, but it is seldom so covered by 

 natural means. 



Brewer Oak. 



Quercii8 hr< weri Engelmann. 



DISTIN GTJISHING CHARACTERISTICS. 



Brewer oak, generally called '"shin oak*' because of its low. shrubby form, 

 is rarely, if ever, a tree, but forms dense, continuous thickets, in which its 

 Slender steins are usually from 4 to 8 feet high (or, in specially favorable sites. 

 from 12 to 18 feet bigh) and from - t<> 4 inches in diameter. The bark is 

 scaly and dull gray. Season's nvi.-s. pale reddish-brown to reddish-yellow, are 

 minutely hairy. Mature leaves (fig. 124), shed in autumn, are deep, shiny 

 green and roughish with very minute (star-shaped) hairs on their top sides: 

 lighter green and minutely woolly beneath; varying in length from about 1J 

 to 'M inches. 



Of no commercial use. but important as an effective cover for rocky slopes, 

 its network of creeping roots, from which its sucker-like steins originate, 

 making irresistible barriers to run-off waters. 



California. — West slopes of Sierras, at about lower edge of yellow pine growth, from 

 northern border' of State southward to upper Kaweah River basins in Tulare County, 



