1 u AMERICAN FOREST TREES 



Fragments of hills, cut sheer down from top to the breakers beneath, are plainly the 

 last remnants of ranges which once extended westward, but have been washed away 

 by the encroaching waves. No one knows how much of the former coast has been 

 destroyed. Apparently the former range of the cypress was principally on land now 

 swallowed up by the encroaching ocean. A mere fringe of the trees a belt about 

 200 yards wide along the beach remains, and the sea is undermining them one by 

 one and carrying them down. So rapidly is the undermining process going on that 

 many large roots of some of the trees are exposed to view. 



ARIZONA CYPRESS (Cupressus arizonica), as its name implies, is an Arizona 

 tree. It forms considerable forests in the eastern, central, and southern parts of the 

 state, and is found also in Mexico. It grows at elevations up to 6,000 feet. Because 

 of the small population in the region where this cypress grows, it has never been 

 much used, but the size of the trees and the character of the wood fit it for many 

 purposes. Its growth is often quite rapid, and the timber is soft, light, and with 

 well-defined summerwood. Its usual color is gray, but occasionally faint streaks of 

 yellow appear. The leaves fall during the fourth and fifth years; cones are small and 

 flat; and the small seeds are winged. It is believed by persons familiar with Arizona 

 cypress that it will attain considerable importance when the building of railroads 

 and the settlement of the country make the forests accessible. The wood is durable 

 in contact with the soil. 



SMOOTH CYPRESS (Cupressus glabra) ranges in Arizona and is not believed to 

 have or to promise much importance as a source of lumber supply. Its name was 

 given on account of the smoothness of the bark. It is one of the latest species to be 

 given a place among the cypresses, and was described and named by George B. 

 Sudworth of the United States Forest Service. 



