SOME P.IOLOGICAL AXD ECOXOMIC ASPECTS OF THE 



CHAPARRAL 



I'.v Ei)\v. X. }iIl-.\xs, 

 I'orcst li.vainiiier, U. S. Forest Service 



The field for study that is open in the chaparral forests of the South- 

 west is unlimited and their importance from many standpoints is as 

 yet but little realized. There are a number of phases of the work 

 carried on in these brush forests that are of interest, a few of which 

 are treated here. 



Two types of chaparral have been recognized, one temporary and 

 the other permanent. This distinction has been based on a fallacious 

 empiricism that the temporary chaparral was the result of a fire, or 

 repeated fires, which destroyed tree growth and made conditions un- 

 favorable for the return of the forest, while permanent chaparral 

 occupied areas where tree growth was impossible or where it was 

 unable to encroach upon the chaparral because of the aggressiveness 

 of the brush: in other words, the forest was being crowded out by the 

 chaparral and would in time disappear. As a matter of fact, the so- 

 called "true or permanent" chaparral is also a temporary type, but 

 because of the more severe conditions under which it grows the rota- 

 tion is much longer. A number of factors support this point of view, 

 some of which are : the dominant species of chaparral of the temporary 

 type in northern California are also found as dominant species in 

 southern California; scattered trees and tree stands exist in the chap- 

 arral where fires as yet have been unable to entirely destroy the growth 

 due to the strength of the species ; good reproduction of coniferous 

 forest trees exist in localities wherever the chaparral is supposed to 

 be driving out the forest ; successful plantations have been made in 

 the chaparral at elevations from 1,500 feet up on all slopes and in 

 brush of varying degrees of density. 



The application of the plant-indicator idea to the sand-hill region 

 of Kansas and Xebraska has resulted in the successful planting of 

 various conifers in this region which held no promise of success, and 

 similar plant indicators are found in this region which indicate similar 

 sites. Thus, in northern California, Ceanothus indicates a site for 

 yellow pine, in southern California one for Jefifrey pine; Cercocarpns 



9 



