Sphagnum mosses take up moisture easily but they hold it. They 

 do not need mineral &&1AA soil and dislike potash and lime. They do need 

 Iii3.it, however; since they do not need K and Ca they are found on poor 

 Innds. In cold arid humid climates they go into the n'oods and turn the 

 forest into marshes and moss-bogs. Thousands upon thousands of sjjuare 

 miles of such areas may be found, conspicuous among !iieh ar;; the muskeg 

 of Canada, in the spruce. 



. Small bushy, woody plants, etc. 



Such are huckleberry, heather, bramble, etc. Huckleberrie 

 dislike rich soil; they tend to form dense mats on the soil, and form 

 sour humus. Their effect is to: 



1) Hacden sand 



2) Destroy f locculation, thus reducing the pore space, and 

 therefore the a r tion. 



Heather is worse than huckleberry. 



The tota.1 effect, however, is not injurious to the soil, as con- 

 sideration must be given to the protection given against rin, holding 

 snow, and forming some littor. 



<1. Chaparral. 



In California, Washington, etc. See Forest Service Bul- 

 letin 85. 



This condition of chaparral occurs on good soils in arid re- 

 gions. It consists of a variety of species of trees. In San Gabriel 

 co nty they are permanent. They resist frost. In the It. Shasta region 

 they come in on old burns. 



The form of chaparral is much like a forest cover. The growth is 

 like th.nt of forest trees growing near the timber line. Such a cover 

 keeps the soil in good condition. It is a better preventative of erosior 

 than the forest. This cover resists forest growth more in arid regions. 

 They are, intolerant and cannot stand shade. 



4. Cases of very Typical forest in regard Soil. 



This will be a comparison of different forms of forest, to 

 some extent, 



1) Pine forest on sandy land in both north and south. 



a.. Case of young growth 3 f high: Growth rapid, stand dense, 

 good production of mulch, roots get down; effect good, soil well tilled. 



b. Sapling stand: Maximum growth. The stand opens up a 



little; the crown rises. The soil is still helped, but not as much as ir 

 the former stage, so far as regards cleaning and mulch. 



c. Pole stage; About the same as given before (under 2d, 

 page 135). 



d.. Tree stage: Same as before (2e,page 135 ) 



. On poor sites; poor, cold, etc. 



On such lands we have to get such stands as lodgepolfc/ 

 pine, Jack pine, etc. These sites may stagnate. The trees are stunted. 

 Such a stand may be old and yet very small. The crowns are poor, deform- 

 ed; the mulch on the soil is almost lacking; there is poor soil life, 

 much leaching, mosses and lichens, etc., and no growth. Often the cli- 

 mate is cold, preventing small and brush growth. The soil hardens and 



