88 Native Forest Resources of the United States. 



318. The " divides" between river systems are generally wooded, 

 but in scattered patches and irregular masses, that give a park-like 

 appearance to the country, but do not afford for many years a sup- 

 ply, where miuing or other settlements are made in their vicinity. 

 The waste and improvidence with which this timber is beiug de- 

 stroyed should lead to prompt and adequate measures for its protec- 

 tion. In some places, it can scarcely be made to grow again, when 

 once cut off, and in others the rate of growth is so slow that five 

 hundred years would scarcely replace the thoughtless waste of an 

 hour. 



319. The decaying remains of coniferous and other trees are not 

 uufrequently found in this region and westward, extending farther 

 out towards the plains than any of the kind are now found growing, 

 or at least young and in. thriving condition. This has been thought 

 to indicate that at no distant period in the past, these trees flourished 

 over a larger area than at present, and in places where, from changed 

 conditions of the climate, they could now scarcely be made to grow 

 by the most careful cultivation. 



320. This recession will, in all probability, be hastened by the 

 improvident waste that is now going on, and changes are already 

 perceptible, although the time since settlements began is but brief. 

 The nutritious bunch-grasses of the plains extend up into the bor- 

 ders of the timber belt, and in open valleys are found to nearly 

 11, 000 feet above tide. 



The Pacific Coast. 



321. The forests of this region are for the most part restricted to 

 the sea-coast, the borders of rivers, and the mountain sides, and are 

 distinguished on account of the relatively large preponderance of 

 the coniferous as compared with the deciduous kinds. 



322. In speaking of the contrasts between this region and the At- 

 lantic States, Dr. Asa Gray remarks : 



"California has no magnolia nor tulip-trees, nor star-anise tree; no so- 

 called pawpaw ; no barberry of the common single-leaved sort; ... no 

 prickly-ash nor sumac; no loblolly-bay norstuartia; no basswood nor lin- 

 den trees; neither locust, honey-locust, coffee-trees, nor yellow-wood; nothing 

 answering to hydrangea or witch-hazel, to gum-trees, viburnum, or dier- 

 villa; no huekle-berries, and hardly any blue-berries; no epigsea charm of 

 our earlio-t spring tempering the April wind with a delicious wild fra- 

 grance ; no kalmia, nor clethra, nor holly, nor persimmon ; 'no catalpa tree; 



