FOKEST PLANTING IN THE UNITED STATES. 143 



supply that much more of this land could be irrigated. Increase the 

 supply enough to irrigate 1 ,000 acres of this land, and the value of 

 $1,000,000 is created. There are many places where this result can be 

 brought about within twenty years by planting at an expense of less 

 than $50,000. Under such conditions the practicability of planting is 

 unquestionable. Tn a less degree this condition exists widely in the 

 Western States. 



A careful sj^stem of forest management, which involves planting on 

 denuded watersheds, is of fundamental importance to the effectiveness 

 of large irrigation works. 



This is a work far beyond the capacity of the individual, or even the 

 State, and belongs inherently to the National Government. Not only 

 does the Government own the land, but in numerous cases where con- 

 ditions to warrant planting exist they occur upon the National forest 

 reserves, which are located in most cases to include the watersheds of 

 important streams. On the reserves, of course, only the Federal Gov- 

 ernment has the right to plant. Since the Government will in the 

 future develop irrigation systems, it will be compelled, for the pro- 

 tection and efficiency of its own property, to maintain such a system 

 of forestry. Unless the barren watersheds are planted, great damage 

 must result to the reservoirs from filling with silt, for the wash from 

 bare mountain slopes such as are to be found in southern California is 

 enormous. 



The Government has already begun experimental planting in the 

 San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto forest reserves in 

 southern California, which are estimated by the United States Geo- 

 logical Survey to contain 1,447,000 acres of brush land, upon which 

 all valuable timber has been destroyed by fire. Since the reserves 

 were established, several years ago, the danger from fire has been >so 

 reduced b}^ a vigorous patrol system that a large proportion of the 

 brush land is now safe enough to warrant planting. Two or three 

 years' experimental work has developed economical and rather rapid 

 methods of planting, and during the past season the planting has been 

 extended over several hundred acres by a field party of the Bureau of 

 Forestry. Knobcone Pine has been planted on the driest spots; 

 Incense Cedar, Sugar Pine, and Western Yellow Pine on the moister 

 and cooler places. 



In the case of the mountain slopes upon which planting is being 

 done, the importance of a forest cover in conserving the water supply 

 for the cities of Los Angeles and Pasadena and contiguous county is 

 considered so great that the Los Angeles County Forest and Water 

 Association and the Pasadena board of trade have contributed liberally 

 toward the work. The planting gives promise of excellent results. 



What the Government is doing on these reserves it might well do 

 on a number of others in California and other Western States. There 



