ON TIMBER TREES 
If study were made of individual conifers in 
any forest region where different species are 
found, it would doubtless be possible to secure by 
mere selection new races that would admirably 
serve the purposes of the forester. 
But of course still better results may be ex- 
pected when hand-pollenizing is carried out intel- 
ligently, and the racial strains of different species 
of conifers are blended and tested to find just 
what are the best combinations. 
It would be nothing strange if among the 
hybrids there should be found one or more varie- 
ties that will attempt to rival the Sequoia itself in 
giantism, and that will quite outrival it in rapidity 
of growth. 
What the pines are as producers of white and 
relatively soft wood of straight grain and uniform 
texture, the members of the great family of oaks 
are as producers of wood of hard texture, irregu- 
larly grained and knotted, but capable to taking 
on a polish and serving almost every essential 
purpose of the cabinet maker. 
The most famous of oaks, doubtless is the 
typical British species, but the American white oak 
is a close second. Perhaps these two might be 
hybridized. If the hybrid thus produced were by 
any chance to show the capacity for rapid growth 
that the hybrid walnuts have shown, while retain- 
[175] 
