WOODLANDS 



501 



acceleration in growth afterward. The chestnut oak will 

 replace the blight killed chestnut to a greater degree 

 than any other single species in Pennsylvania for in most 

 places it is the principal companion of the chestnut. 

 Along the base of the mountain slopes in southern Penn- 

 sylvania chestnut oak frequently comprises 20 per cent 

 of the stands, while along the middle slope it comprises 

 from 30 to 40 per cent, and toward the top of the slopes 

 and upon the ridges it frequently comprises 60 per cent. 

 Pitch pine, another close associate of the chestnut, is 

 expected to play a big part in reforesting dry, gravelly 

 and sandy mountain slopes, upon which some of the 

 most exacting trees do not thrive. Like the chestnut 

 oak, the pitch pine grows more rapidly than the apparent 

 growth indicates. The pitch pine has a wide range and is 



the most fire resistant forest tree native in Pennsylvania. 

 Black locust, another associate of the chestnut, is more 

 local than either the chestnut oak and the pitch pine, 

 but is becoming more numerous in the State. Light 

 sandy soil favors the growth of the black locust and it 

 is one of the most thriving species among the mountains 

 of Bedford County. Black oak, pignut hickory, black 

 birch, table mountain pine and Jersey or scrub pine also 

 are helping to fill the gaps left by the chestnut blight. 

 Where the soil is moist, the chestnut replacements will 

 be more complete and satisfactory, nature aiding largely 

 in the work. Companion species of the chestnut found 

 in such soil are more desirable, among them being the 

 tulip, white ash, red and white oak, red maple and 

 white pine. 



WOODLANDS 



By Ferdinand W. Haasis 



In the southwestern United States on the edge of 



the desert are to be found certain areas of scattered trees 

 of low stature cedars, pinyons, Junipers, oaks, etc. 

 These stands are known as "woodlands". 



Because of the small size of the trees and the com- 

 paratively small number per acre, with the resulting low 

 yields, there has always been some difference of opinion 

 as to whether or not they ought properly to be included 

 within the National Forests. Recently this debate has 

 been actively revived, two articles on the subject hav- 

 ing appeared in the "Journal of Forestry" for May, 1921. 

 The following is submitted as a contribution ito the dis- 



cussion by one to whom it is most familiar. 



Bear in mind that these areas have at present con- 

 siderable value for grazing and as a source of fence posts 

 and fuel, to say nothing of pinyon nuts, and that without 

 administration there is as much danger of destructive 

 exploitation of these resources as there is of the more 

 impressive saw timber stands. Furthermore, many of 

 them are so situated as to have a significance in watershed 

 protection ; and no one can predict what enhanced value 

 they may have in the future as sources of wood fibre, etc. 



The nomenclature refers to the geologic features of 

 Arizona and New Mexico. 



WOODLANDS 



"They're not proper forests", 

 "Dear at any price", 

 "Ruthlessly eliminate" 

 That's the sage advice. 



Once in the-old Carboniferous basins, 



Fringed by the tall Sigillaria trees. 



Toiling and dying, the myriad corals 



Laid down their limestones in warm shallow seas. 



The wash rushing down from the neighboring highlands 

 Buried them deep under mud, silt, and sand. 

 Then an upheaval and unclouded sunshine 

 Gave us a new, barren, desolate land. 



Up on the Wingate and Shinarump sandstones, 

 Up on the Zuni and Moencopie shales. 

 Creeping, possessing, the great stately pine trees 

 Offered defiance to lightning and gales. 



Then in the course of the following ages, 



Bared by the tumult of torrents of rain. 



Slowly once more came those old pristine limestones 



Up to the surface,' a wide-spreading plain. 



Harken to my story. 

 Sons of Mother Earth-, 

 Narrow not your vision, 

 Learn the Woodlands' worth. 



The stately, exclusive, particular pine trees 

 Looked at the orange white barren expanse, 

 Slowly and daintily tried to invade it ; 

 But failing, rains checked their attempted advance. 



Now to the foreground came pinyons and cedars. 

 Took up the work that had vanquished the pines. 

 Covered with verdure the Kaibab formations, 

 Soft'ning their glare and their angular lines, 



Sending their armies far out on the desert, 

 Wresting the land from the cactus and sage. 

 Growing the wood for the fuel and house beams 

 Used by the folks of that far-distant age. 



Pinyon and cedar still border our pine lands, 

 Flanking the forests of sawtimber trees ; 

 Fence posts and cordwood and pencil stock billets 

 Make up a sixth of our wood sales with ease. 



Cherish, then, the woodlands ; 

 Bring them to the fold. 

 Tree and bush and grass clump; 

 Though the critics scold; 



Stretching out the bound'ries; 

 Keeping clear our goal : 

 National resources 

 For the Nation as a whole 1 



