APPENDIX. 235 



the worked-over sites has been notably depauperized by its 

 mulch of clay and gravel. At the point of southern observa- 

 tion Abies concolor occurs, and seems to thrive. 



I noted with interest that young plants of the Douglas 

 spruce, growing about denuded fields in Nevada County, at 

 three thousand five hundred feet, showed great vigor, although 

 naturally fine specimens (mature) seldom occur in the prim- 

 itive forest below five thousand feet. 



It occurs to me that this is an index that this plant may 

 prove valuable for future systematic reforestation. The other 

 species named, except for purposes of forest cover, are not 

 held in much esteem by lumbermen. At higher altitudes, and 

 in the regions covering our valuable pines and spruces, extend- 

 ing over nearly seven hundred miles from San Bernardino to 

 Plumas County, no mining operations (surface) have been 

 conducted, and, except in isolated cases of torrential erosions, 

 the forest floor is intact. 



The original cover has been, however, heavily cut and 

 burned over. Their native reproductive powers seem in- 

 destructible. 



Where deforestation has been caused by the axe, a full 

 proportion of young growths of Pinm lambertiana, P. Coulteri, 

 P. Jeffreyi. P. ponderosa, and Psuedotsuga Douglasii seem to 

 follow. 



Where the denudation has occurred from fire, the more 

 relatively worthless White Fir, Flat-leaved Cedar, and Hem- 

 lock seem to preponderate. 



In the mountains, i. e., the natural timber district of the 

 State, not a single instance occurs where reforestation, upon 

 any scale, large or small, has been undertaken. 



