INTRODUCTION. 15 



forest. This is being done by seed planting. About seventy thousand 

 seeds will be set out. This work is in charge of Mr. T. P. Lukens and 

 immediately under the auspices of the Los Angeles Society. 



Mr. T. H. Douglas of the Waukegan Nurseries gives an encouraging 

 report on forest tree planting in the Middle West. Railroad companies 

 appear to be the largest planters. Mr. Douglas has been unable to 

 give me the statistics of forest tree planting In his section, but he 

 reports the interest to be increasing. This year he says the largest 

 demand for seedling forest trees within his experience has occurred. 



The distinguished writers and engineers who have contributed to 

 this work speak tor themselves in their chapters. Every forest lover 

 will thank them as I do for their work and co-operation. Special 

 thanks are due to Prof. W. R. Dudley, holding the chair of Botany 

 at Stanford University, for his aid in the chapter on trees of the Re- 

 serves. Dr. John Woodbridge of South Pasadena also receives my 

 hearty thanks for his arduous work in the detail and editing of this 

 book. 



Los Angeles, September, 1900. 



NOTE. 



Arizona Petrified Forest. — Lest mistake be made in regard to the 

 age of the Arizona Petrified Forest alluded to in this work, the following 

 note is made : 



These stone trees of agate, amethyst and other beautiful crystal izations, 

 that have replaced the wood tissue, grew in the Mesozoic age. Buried in 

 ancient seas they were covered and petrified. The bed of this ancient ocean 

 was raised. Untold ages of erosion have brought these beautiful and strange 

 mementoes of an extinct forest again to light. Geologists estimate that the 

 age of the petrified trees approximates fifty million years. 



