FORESTRY AT HOME. 81 



protected against fire, at an average yearly cost of less 

 than half a cent per acre. These admirable results are 

 especially interesting because India is like the United 

 States in the great extent and variety of her forests 

 and in the number and fierceness of forest fires. 



FORESTRY AT HOME. 



The forests of the United States cover an area of 

 about 699,500,000 acres, or more than 35 per cent of 

 the surface of the country. Before so large a part 

 of them was destroyed they were, perhaps, the rich- 

 est on the earth, and with proper care they are capable 

 of being so again. Their power of reproduction is 

 exceedingly good. 



In the Northeastern States, and as far west as Min- 

 nesota, once stretched the great white pine forest from 

 which, since settlement began, the greater part of our 

 lumber has come. South of it, in a broad belt along 

 the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts, lies the southern 

 pine forest, whose most important tree, both for lum- 

 ber and naval stores, is the southern yellow pine. In 

 the Mississippi Valley lies the interior hardwood forest 

 of oaks, hickories, ashes, gums, and other hardwood 

 trees. It is bordered on the west by the plains, which 

 cover the eastern slope of the continental divide until 

 they meet the evergreen Rocky Mountain forest which 

 clothes the slopes of this great range from the Canadian 

 line to Mexico. Separated from the Rocky Mountain 

 forest by the interior deserts, the Pacific Coast forest 

 covers the flanks of the Sierras, the Cascades, and the 

 Coast ranges. Its largest trees are the giant sequoia 



