200 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the German ones may not have suffered in the same degree, there 

 are but few of us to whom trading with the enemy, even if and when 

 legalized, would present any attraction. Ignoring all rarities, supposing 

 that I wanted such well-known ornamental trees as Q. Phellos, Q. 

 conferla, and Q. Toza, I should not know where to go for young plants. 

 In fine, I believe that, widely as the taste for arboriculture has increased 

 of late, it would be more difficult now than it would have been fifty 

 years ago to form a representative collection of oaks. 



The leaves of this kind vary so much from deep-lobed ones to 

 others like those of Q. Phellos, long and narrow with no lobes at all, 

 that I must refer your readers to botanical works for a proper account 

 of them. 



The tree itself was first introduced to Europe as far back as 1723, 

 but never seems to have caught on here, though it is approved as a 

 shade tree in its own habitat, the Southern States of the Union. 



Mr. Elwes mentions that, though not actually evergreen, it retains 

 its foliage fresh and green till January or February. This is a strong 

 point in its favour, and makes it the more surprising that so little 

 use has been made of the Water Oak in this country. It is possible 

 that, as its natural site is in damp swampy places, some parts of 

 England might prove too dry for it. 



It is closely related to its more Southern ally, Q. laurifolia, & tree 

 much less often to be found in European cultivation. 



Q. obtusata (Humboldt and Bonpland). — This oak, though coming 

 from Mexico, has the advantage of being perfectly hardy in this country, 

 into which it appears to have been first introduced towards the end 

 of the first half of the nineteenth century. It is deciduous, but holds 

 its leaves until the spring. The leathery obovate leaves average about 

 4 in. long by 2 in. broad ; are rounded at the apex and narrowed at 

 the base, dark green above and pale green below ; they have a markedly 

 ribbed surface and are toothed on the margins, the ovoid acorns, 

 about § in. long, ripen in one season. 



I have seen the fine specimen in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, 

 which is recorded by Mr. Elwes, and also the much smaller one at Kew, 

 and there is another at Westonbirt, which I must have seen but cannot 

 recall. I have none, I am sorry to say, at Aldenham, but am arranging 

 to have a couple of specimens sent me from America during the course 

 of this year, so this gap ought soon to be filled. I know very little 

 of this species at first hand, and must refer readers to " Trees of 

 Great Britain" and other botanical works for fuller and better 

 accounts than I can give. It is said to make a grand tree in its 

 native mountains. 



Q. oxyodon (Miquel). — This is an oak which Wilson collected in 

 China in 1900 on his first journey there, when in the employ of Messrs. 

 James Veitch, who in their day rendered so much service to horti- 

 culture. It is closely related to the Himalayan Q. lineata, and in many 

 works, including Hooker's " Flora of British India," it appears as 

 Q. lineata var. oxyodon, but I am following the advice of the Director 



