17 
In 1860 the Commissioner of Agriculture sent a number of cork oak acorns to Don 
Benito Wilson (now dead). He gave two acorns to Mr. Carpenter, a neighbor who 
owned what is now the S. Richardson farm, and planted the remainder, perhaps 100, 
in his own nursery. They grew fast, but were all destroyed the next year by an 
ignorant workman, who took them for weeds; consequently the two Carpenter acorns, 
both of which grew, furnished the only stock in the valley. One made a tall, 
shapely tree, and grew well until 1892, when it died, probably owing to too much 
water and injury by visitors. The trunk of this tree was 21 inches in diameter in 
1892; height to first branch about 15 feet; total height, 40 to 45 feet. 
The second of the original oaks still remains. A windstorm broke the top, but it 
is recovering from the injury; it is smaller than the tree above mentioned, having 
been moved when 5 years old. It is now about 14 inches in diameter 3 feet from the 
ground, and 28 feet high, the trunk having a height of 12 feet to the lowest branch. 
The finest cork oak on the Richardson farm is 13 years old. It is from the first 
crop of acorns produced by the original larger tree. It has made a remarkable 
growth, although, standing on a bank or bluff, it gets less water than the others. 
It is now 16 inches in diameter and 30 to 35 feet high, with a spread of branches of 
25 teet. ‘The trunk is 7 feet to the lowest branch. 
The remaining trees range in size from 4 to 12 inches in diameter of trunk. 
Thousands of acorns have been distributed from these trees in fruiting years. The 
University of California has sent out several bushels at different times, and 
Mr. Richardson has given so many away that it is said there are now not less than 
1,000 cork oak trees of simall size in the San Gabriel Valley alone. Nurserymen in 
several places have also grown and sold them. The acorns germinate readily if 
planted in the fall and let alone. When potted and petted they usually fail. 
Cylinders of the cork from the largest trees are on exhibition in San Francisco 
and Los Angeles. 
It will be observed that Mr. Shinn’s measurements indicate a much 
more rapid growth of the cork oak in California than is usual in 
France, which may be considered the best possible evidence of the 
adaptability of the species to the soil and climate of that part of 
California in which it has been tested. 
The first distribution of acorns of cork oak was made by the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture in 1858. These seeds were distributed in the 
Southern States and California, and the trees resulting from them are 
occasionally met with. 
Bark from one of these trees planted at Sandersville, Ga., is now on 
exhibition at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta. 
- Sandersville is near the thirty-third degree of latitude, and while the 
tree has lost its foliage several times during severe winters it has 
always leafed out vigorously in the spring, seeming to entirely recover 
from the winter’s injury. 
In 1892 the Division of Forestry secured through Thomas Meehan & 
Sons, Germantown, Pa., two barrels of cork oak acorns, which were 
erown at the Maryland Experiment Station. Through lack of proper 
care comparatively few of the seed germinated, and many of the seed- 
lings were badly damaged by grub worms. Sixteen packages of 
seedlings were distributed in the States suitable for their growth, in 
most cases to experiment stations. 
aato— No, 11 2 
