TIMBER AND LAND VALUES 85 



Plummer's studies show that in southern California the distri- 

 bution of genera by number is as follows: 



Percent 



Adenostama 39 



Quercus 14 



Ceanothus 14 



Arctostaphylos 10 



Cercocarpus S 



Artemisia 4 



Other genera 14 



100 



Of these only the species of oak (Quercus) attain tree form but 

 even they are much dwarfed and can only be used for fuel and 

 fencing. 



As might be supposed from the dry climate growth is very slow. 

 An annual increment of one-fifth of a cord of firewood per acre 

 per anntrai is the best that may be expected. 



Fire is the worst enemy of the type and may bum the roots so 

 deeply that a ground cover will not reestablish itself for years. 



Timber Land and Values. — Since the type furnishes nothing 

 but low grade fuel and fencing the question of stumpage values 

 can be treated briefly. Were better material available the dwarf 

 trees would not even be considered for these purposes but the 

 scarcity of trees in the arid region gives chapparal firewood and 

 fencing an average value of $8 per cord, delivered. The cutting, 

 stacking, seasoning and delivering cost a great deal on account of 

 the scattered condition of the trees and the high price of labor. 

 Hence there is seldom a margin of more than $3 per cord for 

 stumpage and profit. With the average stand of two cords per 

 acre, the stimipage value of the timber never exceeds S5 per acre. 



For the conservation of water, however, the chapparal possesses 

 a high value whenever settlement creates a demand for domestic 

 or irrigation supplies. This is the prime use of the Cleveland, 

 Angeles, and Santa Barbara National Forests and without such 

 protection, the cities of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles 

 and Santa Barbara would sufiE^er greatly for lack of water. This 

 value is difficult to appraise accurately but $10 an acre does not 

 seem an excessive figure where the water supply of a large city is 

 in puestion. 



