100 LANDS OF THE ARID REGION OF THE UNITED STATES. 
The forests of these upper regions are monotonous, as the variety of 
tree life is very small. All of the timber trees proper are coniferous, and 
belong to the pine, fir, and juniper families. The pine of chief value is 
Pinus ponderosa, locally distinguished as the ‘Long leaved pine”; the 
wood is very heavy and coarse grained, but is suitable for the ruder 
building and mining purposes. It is usually found on the slopes between 
eight and nine thousand feet above the level of the sea. It attains a large 
size, and is a stately tree, contrasting grandly with the darker and smaller 
firs that usually keep it company. 
Pinus aristata is of no commercial value, as it is much branched and 
spreading with limbs near the base; it grows on the crags at an altitude 
of from nine to eleven thousand feet. 
Pinus flevilis grows at the same altitude as the last mentioned, and 
often shows a similar habit of growth. On the southern plateaus it is less 
branched and has a tolerably straight trunk, but it is too small and scarce 
to be important as timber. It is highly resinous, and is called “ Piteh 
pine.” 
Pinus monticola, or Sugar pine, is found on the southern plateaus, but 
is not abundant, and rarely attains milling size. 
Pinus edulis is the well known “Pinon pine”. It covers the foot hills 
and less elevated slopes adjacent to the river valleys. The tree is low, 
diffusely branched and scrubby, and is of no use for lumber; but the wood 
is well supplied with resin and makes an excellent fuel, for which purpose 
it is extensively used in consequence of its accessibility. 
There are three valuable species of Abies, namely: A. Douglasii, A. 
concolor, and A. Engelmanni. Abies Douglasii, or Douglas’ spruce, bears 
some resemblance to the eastern spruce, A. Canadensis, but it is a finer tree, 
and the wood is much superior. Though rather light, it is tough and 
exceedingly durable. The heart wood is red, from which circumstance 
lumbermen distinguish it as the ‘Red pine”. In building it is used for all 
the heavier parts, as frames, joists, rafters, ete., and it makes excellent 
flooring. Its value is still further enhanced from the fact that it occupies a 
belt of from seven to nine thousand feet altitude, and thus is easily 
obtained. It may readily be distinguished by its cones, the bracts of 
