SPAIN AND HER SCANTY FORESTS 



137 



parts of these mountains may be seen a little silver fir, but 

 the oak and pine constitute a large share of the forest 

 wherever it is present. Most of the best pine is found 

 in the province of Galicia and consists of the same mari- 

 time pine which is found in the Landes region of south- 

 western France. From the Galician forests come con- 

 siderable quantities of pit props, which are exported in 

 normal times in considerable quantities to England in 

 return for the much needed coal on which Spain is almost 

 entirely dependent. In Catalonia, above Barcelona, and 

 in Andalusia, of Southern Spain the real Spain of the 

 story books are found the extensive cork oak forests 

 which produce a good share of the world's supply of cork. 

 In order to promote the best interests of the forests 

 of Spain, a Spanish Forestry Association was formed 

 many years ago, and is very active. An excellent monthly 

 publication is issued at the headquarters in Madrid, en- 

 titled Espana Forestal. It is very attractively printed and 

 beautifully illustrated and contains interesting articles 

 on all phases of the subject, but it is noticed that many 

 articles are designed to encourage greater government 

 support of the forestry program, and to encourage the 



SYCAMORES IN SPAIN 



Method of trimming street trees employed in the city of Sarria in the 

 Province of Catalonia. These are sycamore trees which are the principal 

 street trees of Spain. The European linden is also used to some extent. 



appropriation of larger funds for the purpose. Many 

 articles are also devoted to commercial information, par- 

 ticularly with regard to the kinds and prices of lumber 

 and other forest products from the different sections of 

 the country. Since Spain is the home of the cork oak, 

 considerable interest is evinced in the proper care and 

 protection of these forests. They are an important 

 source of income to the country at large, and many of 

 the largest estates are dependent for their income upon 

 the extensive cork oak forests which have been largely 

 held within the same families and been operated along 

 similar lines for the past several centuries. 



In traveling about Spain, one is immediately impressed 

 by the large number of trees indigenous to this country 

 which have been planted successfully in nearly all parts 

 of the Spanish peninsula. The California redwoods are 

 to be seen growing in public parks in all parts of the 

 country; they are used at railway stations and about 

 country villas and private estates. In the grounds of the 

 palace of the old Spanish kings at El Escorial are several 

 redwoods about 65 years old which are from three to 

 four feet in diameter and they apparently grow as well 

 as in their native habitat in California. Eucalyptus trees 

 are also found planted throughout Spain, and they are as 



TAGUS BORDERED BY TREES 



A view down the well-known Tagus River which flows from the high 

 interior plateau of Central Spain, westward past the old historic city 

 of Toledo, and across Portugal to the Atlantic, at the port of Lisbon. 

 The island shown on the right is an old Roman fortress which is still 

 in an excellent state of preservation. Almost along its entire course, 

 the river is bordered by the picturesque pine or cork oak forests and 

 occasional olive groves and vineyards. 



common a sight in the landscape in and about the large 

 cities as they are in southern California. 



For reforestation, the European poplar is used exten- 

 sively in the lower valleys, where this tree has been 

 widely planted for the purpose of producing pulp wood. 

 Along the railway lines between Barcelona and the 

 Spanish frontier at Cerbere are to be seen extensive plan- 

 tations of poplars which are apparently doing splendidly. 

 For plantations in the mountains, the maritime pine is a 

 favorite. Eucalyptus trees are planted for decorative 

 purposes, for windbreaks, and for cordwood and timbers. 

 Some of the prominent mines near Huelva plant them 

 for mine props and cross-ties and report very successful 

 results. 



The total area of forests of all kinds in Spain amount 

 to about 62,000,000 acres. According to the officials of 

 the Government Forestry Service at Madrid, this in- 

 cludes, however, a large area of low brush wood and 

 mountain pasture land which we should scarcely classify 



