208 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

 IMPROVEMENT IN THE NATURAL TIMBER SINCE SETTLEMENT OF STATE. 



With the settlement of the State came a change in conditions which 

 resulted in a modification of forest growth and distribution. Fires 

 became less frequent, the trampling of buffalo ceased, and domestic 

 animals were confined to fenced inclosuies. Freed from these destruc- 

 tive agencies the forest sprang into more vigorous growth, and soon 

 began to encroach upon the adjacent prairie. 



This change in forest growth has been closely studied by Dr. Charles 

 E. Bessey, who describes it as follows: 



I have been studying the tree areas of eastern Nebraska, and find evidence that 

 they are advancing with a good deal of rapidity. My personal observations have 

 been in so many localities that it is impossible to specify them in detail. * * * 

 They involve most of the counties in eastern Nebraska. In practically every case 

 where one travels up the streams, passing out to the side branches, to the little tem- 

 porary rills which water the upper basins, the trees are of smaller size and are much 

 younger. It is a very rare occurrence to find large trees near the upper end of a 

 forest belt. I have seen a few such cases, but their rarity is such that one is always 

 surprised when they are found. The general rule is that near the upper limit of the 

 tree area there are many shrubs, and mingled with them many young trees no larger 

 than those which, under cultivation, are known to be not more than 15 to 20 years 

 old. I may cite the following localities from my notes: (1) On the head waters of 

 Oak Creek in Butler County; (2) head waters of the Blue River in Seward and 

 Hamilton counties; (3) head waters of Weeping Water Creek in Cass County; (4) 

 along small streams in the Loup Valley; (5) along the small streams north of the 

 Platte in Sarpy County; (6) head waters of Little Nemaha Creek in Nemaha County. 



No one who has seen and studied the forest areas in eastern Nebraska will be able 

 to doubt that they are spreading where they are given a fair opportunity and are not 

 prevented by man or his domestic animals. 1 



The improvement in the natural forest is evident in three ways: (1) 

 By extension over new territory; (2) by increase in density in the 

 territory already covered; (3) by improved form of the trees. 



<;.ux IN AREA. 



The extent to which the forest has taken possession of new ground 

 during the half century since settlement began can be estimated only 

 imperfectly. Along almost every stream and ravine the forest has 

 won some ground from the prairie. Here it has been only a few 

 square rods, there several acres. Not infrequently tracts of 80 or loo 

 acres have changed from prairie to forest. Near the farm of Mr. C. H. 

 Barnard, of Table Rock, a lield which twenty-live } T ears ago was with- 

 out timber and under cultivation is now covered by a dense forest of 

 young timber. In another place, not a mile distant, the forest has 

 extended up a ravine 2 miles beyond its limit of twenty- five years ago. 

 Kastcrn Nebraska is penetrated by many small streams and ravines. 

 so that the little gained on each one amounts to a great deal in the 



'Paper read before Section (i, Botany, of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, 



