1886.J CHIPS. 595 



and are well wooded, while the valleys are treeless. On this coast 

 the general distribution and density of forests follow the distribution 

 and amount of the rainfall. The forests of the Pacific region are, 

 first, the Northern Forest, extending from the 70th to the 58th 

 degree of latitude. The principal trees of this division are the 

 white spruce, and the most important species of the North Atlantic 

 region, the canoe birch and the balsam fir, are replaced by allied 

 forms of the same genera. The Coast Forest, the heaviest but not 

 the most varied, of the continent, extends in a narrow strip along 

 the coast from the 60 th to the 50 th parallel, where it widens and 

 extends eastward, and then follows the summits of the Sierra Nevada 

 almost to the Mexican boundary. This forest is composed of a few 

 coniferous species. The absence of broad-leaved trees on the Pacific 

 coast is striking. The most valuable woods of the Coast Forest are 

 the Alaska cedar, the tideland spruce, the hemlock of the north, and 

 the red fir. The Coast Forest of California is divided into three 

 sections — the forest of the coast range, that of the western slope of 

 the Sierra, and the open forest of the valleys. The important 

 feature of the Coast Forest range is the redwood belt, whose 

 heaviest growth is found north of the Bay of San Francisco. No 

 other forest of similar extent equals in amount of material the 

 groups of redwood along the California coast. The forest of the 

 western slope of the Sierra is surpassed in density only by the red- 

 wood belt. Its characteristic species is the great sugar pine, and it 

 is situated between 4000 feet and 8000 feet elevation. It extends 

 from the base of Mount Shasta to the 3 5 th parallel, ceasing near 

 the boundary of Mexico. The forest of the valleys is composed of 

 scattered oaks. East of the Sierra and reaching to the Eocky 

 Mountains is the Interior Forest, whose trees are the least valuable 

 of all. 



Chips. 



Russian Forests. — In Eussia the German Forest Lands. — Thereturns 

 Government owns .330,000,000 acres of recently made of the forests of Germany- 

 woods, and other parties 150,000,000. show an increase since 1878 of 152,546 

 About 40 per cent, of the country is aci-es, a result brought about by replant- 

 timtered. The Government woods ing and wooding connnons and waste 

 have been placed under the care of the lands. The gi-ound occupied by timber 

 Forest Department, and the organiza- is now estimated at 20-lOOths of the 

 tion of the service is very complete. empire, out of which the fir and pine 

 There are two schools of Agriculture culture claim upwards of two-thirds, 

 and Forestry, one at St. Petereburg and the remainder being apportioned to oak 

 one at Moscow. and other hardwood trees. 



