December 27, 191 2 131 



The fact that it is more exactirij^ in moisture requirements 

 and more tolerant than either of the yellow pines or the sugar 

 pine, with which it is associated in California and Nevada, give 

 it a prominent place in forestry problems, both from the lumber 

 standpoint and from that of conservation of moisture. 



On south or west exposures the pines have no difficulty in 

 holding their own, but on north slopes especially, the fir is rap- 

 idly gaining the ascendency. The slope along the railroad be- 

 tween Truckee and Summit, California, already mentioned, is a 

 good example. Except on the lower parts of this slope, there 

 are no pines visible from the railroad. No doubt pines were 

 plentiful at one time, but they were cut down, and the tolerant 

 firs immediately began to take possession, crowding out and kill- 

 ing the pine seedlings that may have come up. 



This process is going on over hundreds of north slopes, and 

 from the lumber standpoint is to be deplored. But looked at 

 from the moisture conservation angle it is a blessing in dis- 

 guise. For middle and southern California and all of western 

 Nevada, the conservation of moisture on the higher mountains 

 is vastly more important than the continuance of forest that will 

 produce lumber of the highest grade. The pines are cut, usu- 

 ally with no reference to reproduction, the result being bare and 

 exposed slopes from which the rain rapidly drains off and snow 

 quickly melts. But unless there is a local demand for pulp 

 wood and packing box material, the white fir is cut only for 

 log chutes and such rough construction as may be necessary 

 about the lumber camp. 



Snow is the main factor in our water supply. Young firs 

 are covered with branches from the ground up. They give an 

 abundance of shade, but the branches are pliable enough to per- 

 mit the suow to reach the ground with but iiulc loss. It fol- 

 lows that in this tree we have a forest cover which prevents 

 rapid melting and evaporation, and we have this cover best de- 

 veloped on north slopes, the place where it will do the most 

 good. The growth of fir should be encouraged in every possible 

 way in regions where the water supply depends upon the con- 

 servation of snow. 



