580 



FOKEST RESOURCES OF NEBRASKA. 



Besides the above mentioned, of tbe smaller varieties there are Frunus Americana, 

 Zanihox>/him Americaninn, Stajihi/lea irifolia, Xegundo aceroides, Corylus Americana, Car- 

 pimts Americana, Alnusincana, i!uoni/mus Ama-icana, Cercis Canadensis, Cornus 8ericea{1). 



In the Omaha laud district, which contains something like 4,000 square miles of laud, 

 there appears from the plats in the oihce to be about 75,000 acres of timber. A tract 

 of country of equal size lying west of it would contain much less. 



It appears evident tbat within a geological period comparatively re- 

 cent, timber grew in portions of IS'ebraska now entirely destitute of na- 

 tive forests. Professor Aughey found, in 18C8, in a peat-bog in Cedar 

 County, a log, buried in tbe bog, at least GO feet in length, and many 

 more of various sizes. Tbe roots of pine trees are often found sticking 

 from the ground along tbe Niobrara Kiver, on tbe northern border of tbe 

 State, more than 50 miles distant from the nearest present forests. The 

 cause of disappearances affords a theme of conjecture, but it may fairly 

 be ascribed to destructive summer fires in exceptionally dry seasons, and 

 tbe charred appearance of the roots appears to confirm this theory, 

 which is further supported by obscure Indian traditions. There are also 

 indications of a greater amount of rainfall at a former period, and tbe 

 dryness of modern years may have bad some connection with this sweep- 

 ing away of great forest areas. 



In speaking of the possibility of re-establishing a forest growth in 

 this region, Professor Aughey remarks : 



It is wonderful how nature here responds to the eiforts of man for reclothing this 

 territory with timber. Man thus becomes an efficient agent for the production of 

 geological changes. As prairie fires are rei^ressed and trees are replanted by the mill- 

 ion, the climate must be still further ameliorated. When once there are groves of 

 timber on every section or quarter-section of land in the State, an approach will be 

 made to some of the best physical conditions of Tertiary times.i 



Comparison of the floras of Nehraslca and loica sofas as they relate to wood- 

 bearing species. 



A catalogue of the floraof Nebraska by Professor Aughey j'* and one of 

 Iowa by J. C. Arthur,^ show the following points of resemblance and 

 difference. For convenience of reference, the lists are arranged alpha- 

 betically. 



I.— FOUND IN BOTH STATES. 



Acer rubrum (red, or soft maple). 

 saccharinum {sugar maple). 

 ^sculus flava {stveet Mckeye). 



glabra {Ohio buckeye). 

 Alnus incana {speckled alder). 

 Amelanchier Canadensis {shad bush). 

 Amorpha fruticosa {false indigo). 

 Ampelopsis quinquefolia(Fi?'<5(t»jia creeper-). 

 Asimina triloba {pawpaw). 

 Betula papyracea {canoe birch). 

 Carpinus Americana {blue beech). 

 Carya alba {shellbark hickory). 



amara {bitter nut). 



tomentosa {mocker nut). 

 Celastrus scandens {bitter sweet). 

 Celtis occidentalis {hackberry). 

 Cephalanthus occidentalis {button bush). 



Circis Canadensis {red hud). 

 Cornus alternifolia {alternate-leaved dog- 

 teood). 

 asperifolia {rougii-leaved dogwood). 

 paniculata {white-fruited dogwood). 

 sericea {Einnikinnik : silky dog- 

 wood). 

 Coryllus Americana {wild hazel nut). 

 Crataegus coccinea {scarlet thorn). 



tomentosa {black thorn). 

 DierYJlla trifida {bush honeysuckle). 

 Euonymus atropurpureus (burning bush). 

 Fraximus Americana {tvhite ash). 

 quadrangulata {blue a^sh). 

 viridis {green ash). 

 Glediscchia triacauthos {honey locust). 

 Gymnocladus Canadensis {coffee tree). 



^ The Superficial Deposits of Nebraska, 2d edition, p. 28. From Hayden's Geological 

 Report for 1874. 



2 Catalogue of the Flora of Nebraska, published by the University of Nebraska, 

 adapted for marking desiderata in exchange of specimens. Prepared by Prof. Samuel 

 Aughey, Ph. D. Lincoln, 1375, 8vo., pp. 37. 



^Contributions to the Flora of lowo. A Catalogue of the Phsenogamous Plants 

 Prepared by J. C. Arthur. Charles City, 1876, 8vo., pp. 43. 



