BETULACEAE 



New Mexico and adjacent Texas, It grows to be a much larger tree, 

 frequently forty feet high and eight inches to a foot in diameter. 

 This, like the previous species, should be grown in arboreta as a 

 novelty. 



FAGA.CME 



♦Querous emory i , the Emory Oak, may well be considered a for- 

 est tree although it is found commonly in our foothills. The fur- 

 ther they extend into the open at the base of the mountains the 

 more widely spaced they become. Viewed from high points they lend 

 to the lane 1 scape the appearance of orchards* Large trees arc 

 commonly hollo:-;. The wood is very hard and heavy and excellent 

 for firewood. The camper and hiker in the Southwest is remiss who 

 has not broiled beef steal's over the coals of the Snory Oak. The 

 acorns of this tree are an important article of d.i.et among Mexicans 

 and Indians. In the Pine and Fay son region of Arizona Indians go 

 for a couple of weeks or more on camping trips at acorn time to 

 nick these acorns. P.ost of them contain worms and if sacked and 

 stored immediately after picking are soon a total loss. The 

 Indians spread the newly picked acorns out in the sun and as soon 

 as the shells begin to get hot the larvae emerge. If the acorns 

 are planted immediately they geminate in spite of the larvae. 

 Because of rodents it is probably not .feasible to sow the acorns 

 in the field. They should bo planted in the nursery and the young 

 seedlings transferred to the field. 



TJhile the Emory Oak is probably the most outstanding oak in 

 the southwest, it is in no way comparable to cone others as an 

 e r o s i on c ont r o 1 pi ant • 



* Que reus gambellii, the Gambell Oak, and its near relatives 

 such as Q. no o-moxi cana , the Hew Mexico Oak; ":. runnisonii, the 

 Gunnison Oak* ut alien s is, the Utah Oak; and possibly others, 

 all here classed as Gambol 1 Oaks, arc far superior as soil binders. 

 In fact a little study of the Gambell Oaks about Prescott, Arizona 

 in the v.Tiite Mountains, and in the Dur&ngo region of southern 

 Colorado, must convince anyone of their merit in holding the soil 

 on steep hillsides. 



Quercu s undulata, Pocky Mountain Shin Oak, has followed 



ancient fires in the mountains south of Las Vegas, 'Tew Mexico, 

 along the lower slopes around Cimarron, and in the Sacramento 

 Mountains, carpeting and holding thousands of sections of land 

 that would otherwise be washed into tho ocean or at least part 

 way. 



-51- 



