2 10 THE PLANT WORLD 



In the immediate neighborhood of Julian the California 

 black oak has, to a great extent, replaced the live oak, and 

 on the hill sides pine trees {P'niiis CoiiUcri) of considerable 

 size occur, either scattered or occupying areas of greater or 

 less size, in the midst of the grass-cov^ered slopes, while the 

 chaparral, though still ot frequent occurrence, has become 

 a subordinate feature. The town and adjacent country for 

 some little distance around is well within the pine belt. The 

 average annual rainfall from 1900 to 1906, as reported by 

 the local observer, was thirty inches, and as a farther indica- 

 tion of climatic conditions, it may be said that this region is 

 celebrated for the abundance and excellence of its apples, 

 pears, plums and \arious other fruits. 



The picture will be more complete and the contrast more 

 impressive if, before making the sharp descent into the desert, 

 we take the mountain road from Julian to the Cuyamacas, a 

 few miles to the south, and there ascend to the summit of 

 one of the three peaks. Taking for conxenience the middle 

 peak, and beginning at the reservoir at an altitude of 4,500 

 ft., the yellow pine (Piiiiis ponderosa) and the black oak 

 {Oitcrctis ccilifoiiiicd) are characteristic tree species, and be- 

 tween 4,500 and 5,000 ft., the incense cedar {Lihocedriis 

 decnm'iis) , the sugar pine {Piiiiis Lnuihi'iliiuui) , and white 

 fir {Abies coiicolor) come in, becoming ciominant before the 

 summit is reached, at an elevation of 5,900 ft., making a tine 

 forest of hea\y trees, in the low undergrowth of which are 

 seen Pliris, Riih/is, 'Fhaliclrinn and Symphor'narpHs, goose- 

 berry, rose bushes, choke cherry, and other reminders of 

 northern forests. From the summit ( )f the peak the superb view 

 is most perfect, and, with what has already been seen at lower 

 points, gives a clear impression of thesuccessivezonesof vege- 

 tation. Around the observer is the coniferous forest just des- 

 cribed; below it is the narrow zone of Coulter's pine and black 

 oak ; and beyond this stretching away many miles to the vicinity 

 of the Pacific, is a billowy confusion of mountains, plains, and 

 valleys, the broad belt of the chaparral and live oak. To the 



