THE WORLD'S GREATEST WOODLOT 



By GEORGE S. LONG. 



THERE are native to the Pacific making a transition into sage brush, arc 

 slope states about one hun- areas of juniper trees too small to saw 

 dred species of true forest but valuable for fuel and posts. Under 

 trees, not counting low shrub certain mountain conditions, especially 

 forms, and of these nearly forty spe- where fire has discouraged the yellow 

 cies, or over a third, have established pine, lodgepole pine is abundant, and 

 commercial value. From the ordinary although little used for lumber, affords 

 lumbering standpoint, about fifteen spe- ties and mining timbers, 

 cies are of high importance because of Just as in the southern part of the 

 both quantity and quality and perhaps Rocky Mountain region, in Arizona and 

 five more are cut when found in mix- New Mexico, western yellow pine pre- 

 ture with them. The other kinds classed dominates (the Flagstaff region in Ari- 

 above as commercial are rarer, or used zona is said to have the largest abs@- 

 only for special purposes, and do not lutely unbroken pine forest now extant 

 enter into ordinary lumber stocks. in the world), to the northward through 

 While a few important species are Wyoming and into Montana lodgepole 

 confined to particular localities, like the pine becomes a more important compo- 

 redwood of the California coast coun- nent of the whole. Utah and southern 

 ties and the Port Orford cedar of Idaho are also in this Rocky Mountain 

 southwestern Oregon, others occur type of varying pine and spruce forest 

 wherever climatic conditions suit their of which but one species, western yel- 

 peculiar requirements and a third still low pine, is a thoroughly excellent tree 

 more adaptable class, like Douglas fir for universal purposes, but which is all 

 and western yellow pine, range through- valuable for local and special use and 

 out the entire West except upon deserts as a protector of a great watershed, 

 and mountain tops, although finding Northern Montana and Idaho are 

 certain conditions more favorable unique in being the meeting ground of 

 to their highest development. For Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast for- 

 these reasons, and particularly because est conditions, for wide arid areas pre- 

 there are few extensive areas maintain- vent such a meeting in the states far- 

 ing uniform conditions particularly ther south. Here all the species de- 

 suited to one, pure stands of any one scribed above are found, while cedar 

 species are rare. The forests of the and hemlock testify approach to the 

 west present a succession of varying moister climate of the coast. From the 

 mixture-types, perhaps dominated in lumberman's standpoint, however, it is 

 certain regions by one or more species none of these outposts from either side 

 but often shading into another type al- that make the region interesting but 

 most imperceptibly with changing alti- the dominance of the two species that 

 tude or climate. find here their, Highest development 

 The western slope of the Rockies is western white pine and larch, or tam- 

 typically a western yellow pine and arack. The latter grows on dryer soils. 

 Engelman spruce forest, the spruce sue- mixed with red fir or yellow pine. The 

 ceeding the pine at higher, moister alti- fresher situations bear magnificent 

 tudes. The same red or Douglas fir stands of white pine, sometimes mixed 

 that grows to immense size on the coast with valuable pole cedar, and this pine, 

 is scattered through it, but of small size although a different species to botan- 

 or value. Alpine members of the white ists, serves every purpose for which the 

 pine family occur but are not commer- disappearing eastern white pine is a fa- 

 cial. At the foot of the mountains, vorite. Its rapid growth as well as its 



632 



