EVERGREENS IN THE LANDSCAPE 5 



in the Sierras. The largest and highest, as well as the oldest 

 trees in the world, the "big trees" (Sequoia gigantea), are 

 found on the Pacific slope. 



The foregoing list enumerates but a few, of course, of the 

 total number of conifers in the several forest regions. In gen- 

 eral, the forests of the United States fall into two main classes, 

 the eastern and western forests. East of the Great Plains, 

 broad-leaf species are found in mixture with conifers. There is 

 usually much undergrowth. In the West the forests consist of 

 practically pure stands of conifers, for the most part, except in 

 the Pacific Northwest, of open character and free from under- 

 growth. 



Without the lumber yielded by the coniferous forests, the 

 United States could never have achieved the rapid material 

 progress that has characterized the growth of the nation, 

 especially since the Civil War. The rapid expansion of the 

 Mississippi Valley States was made possible in no small part by 

 the pine forests of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Like- 

 wise, southern pine has played a great part, just as now Douglas 

 fir is coming to be one of the most used woods. The coniferous 

 forests have been a great heritage, but, unfortunately, they 

 have been misused and until very recent years no thought has 

 been given to their replacement. The forest has been treated 

 as a mine, not as a crop. The American people will have reason 

 to regret their short-sightedness. 



The Pacific Coast forests now constitute the last great store- 

 house of virgin softwood timber. When that supply is ex- 

 hausted, the needs of the nation can be met only from second- 

 growth forests. Furthermore, four-fifths of the standing timber 

 that remains is privately owned and as yet but little of this 

 area has been brought under scientific forest management. 

 This gives point to the movement for an adequate national 



