290 NEW TRACKS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
enrich Eastern gardens, is not yet exhausted, and new discoveries are being — 
made every year by the zealous botanists connected with the California State — 
Geological Survey. A regular flora of this region is now in course of prepara- — 
tion by Professor W. H. Brewer, under the able assistance of Professor Gray, of 7 
Cambridge, Massachusetts. ; 
THE FOREST TREES ON THE ROUTE OF THE SURVEY. 
The importance of the tree product near the line of the surveyed et ; 
route, both as regards supplies of fuel and purposes of construction and rep: ‘ 
is of sufficient interest to receive some special notice in a general Lotta 
report ; 
After leaving the wooded district of Eastern Kansas, which occupies the — 
principal valleys with belts of timber of variable extent, and which diminishes — 
rapidly to the west, we at length, near the 100° west longitude, ae upon 
a treeless district, extending for over 5°, and reaching to the foot of the Rocky 3 
or metamorphic rocks, is comparatively smooth in its general outline, and — 
easily accessible. The forest growth is here almost exclusively confined to the — 
Rocky Mountain gel pine (Pinus ponderosa), which, from its durable quality, 
rity 0: facility for working up into the different qualities of | 
lumber, is probably one most valuable of any Western pine. When gro 
and well adapted for railroad ties. This is the prevalent pine tree which is 
met with on all the eleyated mountain slopes extending from the Eastern Rocky — 
Mountains to the Sierra Nevada. 
Farther to the south of the Denver pine-region, along the different lines of — 
the Seid railroad siege Asics Southern Colorado and New Mexico, a 
ee oy ‘different and peculiar pine makes its appearance along the foot-hills of the 
cky Mountains, ‘clothing the low rocky ledges with patches of dark green, as 
seen in a distant view. 
‘This is the nut-pine, or Pifion of the natives, Pinus edulis of botanists. It is 
__ generally of a low branching habit, its short stocky trunk dividing near the 
surface of the $e into branching arms, ane it a globular outline. 
toe ars large es its straggling branches intertwine to form 
inextrice icket 
Cae i queacatys sevciated at lower elevations with a cedar (Juniperus occiden 
. tals of a ee straggling habit, which farther west gives place to the 
, Torr. 
er 
These trees are all well adapted for fuel, burning when = ee a clear 
_ intense fame, which is prolonged and especially suited steam 
