42 FOREST RESOURCES OF TEXAS. 



This region is capable of supporting a large and varied timber 

 growth. The possibilities of tree growth in the Black Prairie, and 

 particularly in the Coast Prairie country from Victoria eastward, are 

 far greater than is generally believed, and the introduction of exotics 

 which flourish under similar climatic conditions elsewhere will eventu- 

 ally furnish material additions both to the beauty and to the economic 

 resources of the region. 



In the region west of the ninety -eighth meridian the prospect is not 

 so good. On the Staked Plains and in the lower Eio Grande country, 

 where wells furnish the water supply, the limit of plantations will be 

 set by the expense of raising and distributing the water. But on the 

 plains only those trees can grow which are sufficiently hardy to endure 

 a temperature of 10 to 20 below zero, while in the lower Rio Grande 

 country the list of possible trees includes practically all which can 

 grow in northern Florida, the San Joaquin Valley in California, and 

 many of the lands which surround the Mediterranean. 



CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING PRIVATE MANAGEMENT. 



It is plain from the survey of the prospects of private management 

 of forests in Texas that, in spite of conditions favorable to its prac- 

 tice in many parts of the State, and in spite of the hopeful beginning 

 which has already been made toward introducing it in the longleaf 

 pine territory, unaided private initiative will not suffice to protect the 

 public interests affected by forest destruction. Under the lumbering 

 methods now employed the pine forests are either ruined or so severely 

 "injured that their productiveness is greatly impaired. On the long- 

 leaf pine lands reforestation under present conditions is practically 

 impossible. On loblolly and shortleaf lands reforestation is rapid 

 enough, but the pine is for the most part replaced by scrub oak thicket. 

 Fires and taxes remove the inducement to the forest owner to cut with 

 reference to subsequent crops. The owners of small tracts and wood- 

 lots lack the knowledge required to make the most of their holdings. 

 Communities dependent on the maintenance of forest cover for their 

 water supply, or for protection against floods and silt, are exposed to 

 the consequences of deforestation by landowners at a distance, acting 

 solely with reference to their own interests. Left to themselves, the 

 forces now at work will result in an impoverishment of the resources 

 of the State which it will soon be too late to prevent, and will pro- 

 duce conditions necessitating remedial measures at very heavy public 

 expense. 



