ILLUSTRATIONS. 



MAP. 



Relief map of the Edwards Plateau. (Eighteenth Rpt. U. S. Geological Survey 



Pt. II, PI. XXIII) Frontispiece 



Page. 



PLATE I. Fig. 1. View of the timber (mostly cedar) on the white, crumbly 

 limestone; higher remnants of the plateau in the distance. No 

 soil accumulates except under clumps of cedar. Colorado breaks 

 10 miles north of Austin. Fig. 2. Comal River at its source. 



Escarpment timber 8 



II. Fig. 1. Characteristic view of the Edwards Plateau forest, on the 

 Colorado River, 10 miles above Austin. Mostly cedar on the sum- 

 mits here. Mountain oak lower down the sides of the gorge. 

 This timber prevents rapid run-off and erosion after rainfall. Fig. 

 2. Hill near Austin covered with pure stand of mountain oak. 

 On the left the timber has been cut clean for fuel. Such clear- 

 ings show rapid renewal of timber 8 



III. Fig. 1. View in a cedar brake. The adobe soil and rocks are cov- 



ered with a thin layer of brown soil and forest debris, showing 

 capacity of cedar to accumulate soil even on the arid slopes of 

 crumbly limestone. Fig. 2. Characteristic occurrence of cedar 

 upon a steep slope covered by loose limestone talus, upon which 

 most vegetation is unable to establish itself. Dry bed of Bull 

 Creek 16 



IV. Fig. 1. Cedar brake near Austin twenty-five years after first cutting. 



A heavy crop of fuel and charcoal. Shows capacity for reforesta- 

 tion. Fig. 2. Characteristic encroachment of inesquite on pasture 

 land in central Texas. With the exception of a few scattered 



live oaks, this was a clean prairie a few years ago 24 



V. Fig. 1. "South gorge" at its head under Lone Tree Hill, near 

 Austin. The higher slopes have been denuded of timber. The 

 run-off water after heavy rainfall is very violent. Fig. 2. ' 'North 

 gorge" from Lone Tree Hill. Heavily timbered slopes. Violence 

 of rainfall broken and rapid run-off prevented 24 



