RECLAMATION OF GRASS LANDS BY UTAH JUNIPER ON 

 THE TUSAYAN NATIONAL FOREST, ARIZONA 



By Fred H. Miller 



Forest Ranger, U. S. Forest Service 



One of the most striking features of the landscape along the 

 Ocean-to-Ocean Highway between Ash Fork and Williams, or on the 

 Phoenix Branch of the Santa Fe Railroad from Ash Fork to Cedar 

 Glade, is the large number of young juniper trees which are growing 

 in open parks or prairie lands. In a number of places reproduction 

 is seen growing at distances of from one to two miles from the near- 

 est seed trees. 



An investigation of this phenomenon was conducted along with the 

 field work done in connection with the preparation of a plan of man- 

 agement for the woodland areas of the Tusayan National Forest. Two 

 large open areas were studied. 



Wagon Tire Flat, located east of Cedar Glade, is the largest area 

 and most typical example of the encroachment of tree growth on 

 grass lands. As the name implies this area is a large, comparatively 

 level tract approximately T,48o acres in extent. The soil is mod- 

 erately deep, formed chiefly from the disintegration of malpais or 

 lava. Many small rocks from two to six inches in diameter are scat- 

 tered throughout the soil. The texture varies from a stony clay to a 

 very stony clay. Because of the presence of rock, this area is prac- 

 tically worthless for agricultural purposes. However, since the annual 

 rainfall in the vicinity of Cedar Glade averages only 15 inches per 

 year, successful farming is out of the question for this climatic reason 

 alone. Nevertheless, the locality is ideal forest land. The site is of 

 the best quality for the Utah juniper type. 



Tobosa grass {Pleuraphis uiutica) is the principal forage plant 

 growing upon Wagon Tire Flat. This grass does not form a dense 

 sod, neither is it consumed to any extent by grazing animals ; accord- 

 ingly, it is not close cropped as are some of the better forage plants, 

 grama grass for example. 



Because of the fact that tobosa grass does not form a dense sod, 

 much mineral soil is exposed. The presence of the numerous small 



