334 Trees of Southern California. [zoE 



broken are the mountains in many parts, and so invaded and 

 intersected are the wooded tracts by chaparral. Compared with 

 the great forests at the north these are not only insignificant in 

 extent, but are equally unable to sustain the comparison in the 

 size of the trees, or the density of their growth. Scattered in 

 loose array over the hillsides, it is only on the moister soil of the 

 flats, or in the shelter of canons that the trees cast a dense 

 shade, or attain to lofty proportions; yet they do not lack the 

 extent and magnitude to excite those feelings of admiration and 

 exaltation which forests ever raise in the mind, while their park- 

 like disposition and the variety of species free them from gloom 

 and monotony. 



THE SAN BERNARDINO FOREST. 



The outline of the area occupied by the largest, or the San 

 Bernardino forest is that of a wedge, the point near the Cajon 

 Pass, broadening eastward to Gray back Mountain; the length 

 being about forty miles, and the greatest breadth twenty miles, 

 the district included being in part forest, and in part chaparral or 

 barren rock. On the south from a valley base of about 1200 feet 

 above sea level the mountains rise with great abruptness to a 

 crest of from 4000 to 8000 feet altitude, which runs in a generally 

 east and west direction. The northern slope of this ridge, less 

 abrupt than the southern, constitutes the water shed of the Mojave 

 River, and on it is located the largest and best, as well as the 

 most accessible body of timber. This is nearly twenty miles in 

 length, and from one to three miles in breadth. South and east 

 of this axis, and separated from it by the gorge of the Santa Ana 

 River, which receives their drainage, rise the twin peaks of San 

 Bernardino and Grayback. This region is of an exceedingly 

 rugged character, and the forests which it nourishes are broken 

 and difficult of access. 



Commencing now at the southern foot of the range, a few 

 small spruce {Pseudotsuga viacrocarpd) are found on sheltered 

 western or northern exposures, along the canons, at about 

 2500 feet altitude;* these increase in size and in abundance 

 until at between 3000 and 4000 feet altitude both sides of the 



* On East Twin Creek, below the Arrowhead Hot Springs, a few grow as 

 low as 1700 feet altitude. 



