196 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



It yields tlie best food for tlie Oak Silkworm (Bombyx 

 Yamamai). 



Quercus Sideroxylon, Humboldt. 



Mountains of Mexico, at 8000 feet elevation. An Oak of 

 great size, of compact timber, almost imperishable in water. 

 Q. lanceolata, Q. chrysophylla, Q. reticulata, Q. laurina, Q. 

 obtusata, Q. giaucescens, Q. Xalapensis (Humb.) and Q. 

 acutifolia (Nee) are among the many other highly important 

 timber Oaks of the cooler regions of Mexico. No printed 

 records seem extant concerning the technology of the nume- 

 rous Mexican Oaks, though doubtless their respective value 

 is well known to local artisans. 



Quercus Skinneri, Bentham. 



Mexico. The acorns of this Oak measure nearly six inches 

 in cii'cumference, and are available for various domestic 

 animals. 



Quercus squamata, Roxburgh. 



One of the tallest of the Himalayan Oaks. "Wood lasting. 



Quercus stellata, Wangenheim. 



The Post-Oak of North-East America. Content ^ith poor 

 and even sandy soil, but not a large tree. For its very 

 durable and dense wood it is much in requisition theie 'for 

 posts, and particularly highly-prized for ship-building. 



Quercus Suber, Linne.* 



The Cork-Oak of South Europe and North Africa; evergreen. 

 It attains an age of fully 200 years. After about twenty 

 years it can be stripped of its bark every six or seven years ; 

 but the best cork is obtained from trees over forty years old. 

 Height of tree about forty feet. Acorns of a sweetish taste. 

 Mr. Robinson found that yoimg Cork-Oaks, obtained from the 

 writer, made a growth of four feet in a year in the humid 

 Western Port district. The bark of Q. Pseudo-Suber (Sant.) 

 is inferior for cork, but the closely-allied Q. occidentalis (G-ay), 

 which is hardier than Q. Suber, produces a superior cork- 

 bark. 



Quercus Sundaica, Blume. 



One of the Oaks from the mountains of Java, where several 

 other valuable timber Oaks exist. The existence of Oaks on 

 the higher mountains of New Guinea has been demonstrated 

 ■ by Dr. Beccari; hence, in all probability, additional valuable 

 evergTeen species will be obtainable for our arboreta from 

 thence. 



Quercus Toza, Bosc. 



South Europe. One of the handsomest Oaks, and one of the 

 quickest of growth. Will live in sandy soil. It furnishes^ 

 superior tanners' bark. 



