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AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE ,OF TEXAS. 



more noticeable than upon the level prairies. Within the last twenty- 

 five or thirty years the transformation has been so marked as to become 

 a matter of common discussion. Every old resident can point out 

 thickets of oak or mesquite, and even extended timber belts, which in 

 the years gone by did not exist. This is abundantly true in William- 

 son, Burnet, Lampasas, Coryell, and the counties north and west in 

 the flats and basins of the Eed Beds country. Over more limited areas 

 it is equally true north and south from Dickens County to the Breaks 

 of the Plains. For years the prairie grass unweakened by overgrazing 

 of stock, and aided by frequent grass fires, held all woody growth 

 successfully in check. Conditions are now reversed and the forest areas 

 are extending downward from the ridges and mesa tops and across the 



Mesquite Encroaching on Prairie Land Colorado County. 



open prairies. There are noticeable examples of gradation in ages 

 and sizes of trees, from the oldest on the summits and rough soils from 

 whence the invasion came to the youngest spreading out upon the flats. 

 Among the tree species which are taking part in this invasion, mes- 

 quite is perhaps the most widely abundant. Essentially an occupant of 

 flat, prairie lands, mesquite is rapidly taking possession of wide areas 

 throughout this entire region and in addition is becoming a marked 

 feature of the Edwards Plateau hills. In the great agricultural regions 

 of the Black and Grand Prairies mesquite is also making its home and 

 is spreading to the Lignitic country of the East Texas Timber Belt. 

 Its manner of growth is habitually in pure, orchard-like stands, other 



