190 



I. 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



m 



-17 



an to 37,000 acres of steep, rugged What to plantand how to plant must 



mountams, is entirely inadequate, although be governed by local conditions W thin 



they have accomplished a great deal in the boundaries of our S,ooc ,000 acres ;of 



watching careless persons, and in putting forest reserves, the struct^ and , , , t 



out small fires. A bucket brigade in a conditions vary greatly. I have the most 



FIG. 3. SHOWING BUSH COVERED ARE V IN THE SAN GABRIEE FOREST RESERVE, 



SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 



large city would be as effectual in battling 

 fire as the small number of men now em- 

 ployed in the reserves. 



While the brush is valuable as a water 

 conserver, a tree covering is much more 

 desirable, inasmuch as the soil under trees 

 is cooler and moister than under brush. 

 The roots of trees are larger and penetrate 

 to a greater depth, and the surface receives 

 more humus to form a mulch to retain the 

 water and prevent evaporation. As fast 

 as the brush is burned, there should be 

 planted the seed of indigenous trees. An 

 area forested exclusively with trees has 

 also the advantage of being less suscepti- 

 ble to fire. 



profound respect for Nature she has made 

 no mistake in planting trees, all being 

 suited to the conditions surrounding them. 

 While it is possible some foreign trees wil 1 

 thrive for a while, it is not safe to plant 

 other than indigenous trees except in an 

 experimental way. 



The forested area of southern California 

 is about equal to that of Prussia when-. 

 under government control, the annual net 

 profit of $1.50 per acre is realized, beside 

 the incalculable indirect benefit of equal- 

 izing stream flow, etc. In the Grand 

 Duchy of Baden the annual net direct 

 profit is $2.60 per acre, ten cents -n\ acre 

 annual net profil more than oui govern- 



