128 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



silt. To prevent this filling, the forests must be preserved; they must 

 be protected from fire, in so far as an efficient forest service can protect 

 them, and also from grazing, vi^herever it seriously interferes with the 

 effectiveness of the forest floor as a water absorbent. In some of the 

 Southwestern reservations, notably in Arizona, sheep-grazing has been 

 carried so far that natural reproduction is at a standstill, and the 

 forest floor has been made in some places almost as bare and compact as 

 a road-bed. It is reasonable to expect that overgrazing will continue, 

 until every hoof that enters the reservations is there under a permit 

 based upon the judgment of a competent forester, who shall have 

 absolute decision as to the portions of the forests that can be safely 

 grazed and those that cannot. 



One of the most fertile causes of injury to the forest cover of the 

 resers^ations arises from the numerous private holdings of non-agri- 

 cultural lands within their boundaries. From personal experience I 

 know that the harvesting of the timber on these small areas of private 

 lands in the San Bernardino reservation and the leasing of them for 

 grazing purposes have been harmful to the reservation to a marked 

 degree. The conducting of logging operations during the dry season 

 by means of traction engines or by donkey engines and cables have 

 caused numerous fires, some of which have escaped and burned over 

 large areas of the reservation. 



In driving sheep to the leased lands within the boundaries of the 

 reservation, they have been grazed for months on the reserved lands, 

 the leasing of the private holdings being primarily an excuse to get 

 the stock within the reservation. It would seem desirable, therefore, 

 that all such holdings be acquired by the Government, in order to 

 eliminate the constant danger arising from them. 



We should not overlook the value of the forest reservations as 

 great national parks for recreation and sport, where those so inclined 

 can go and get in touch with nature at her best; where the streams 

 abound in trout, and wild animals are not confined behind iron bars; 

 where there are no signs, 'Keep off the grass,' and, best of all, where 

 one can build himself anew from wholesome mountain air and water, 

 vigorous exercise and plain food. 



With so much to commend both State and National reservations 

 and with such vast areas of public lands at the command of the 

 Government, it is somewhat surprising that their realization remained 

 until the last decade of the nineteenth century. At last the forest 

 lias gained the resepct due it as a great economic and civilizing factor 

 and is taking its true place in the esteem of all classes of public-spirited 

 citizens. 



