INTRODUCTION. 



Relation of Geology to Forestuy— Historical Notes on Forests — 

 Present Gjndition of Forests— Climatic Influence of Forests — 

 Educational and Aesthetical Elements —Protection Against 

 Forest Fires— Doty of the State. 



RELATION OF GEOLOGY TO FORESTRY. 



The subject of forestry and a report on the forests of the State 

 belong naturally to the work of the Geological Survey, because 

 the forests are related closely to the geological formations, and 

 the Survey has within its scope of investigations the surface 

 formations and the origin of the soils which are natural to these 

 formations. The Division of Surface Geology has been a leading 

 one for the field seasons of 1891 to 1899, and the surveys in this 

 division have covered the State. The forests are the natural 

 vegetal cover of these surface formations, and are characteristic 

 of them. From the geological map, which shows in detail the 

 subdivisions of these formations, and gives their geographic 

 limits, it is possible to learn the general nature of the timber 

 growing naturally on them. The geological map becomes, 

 therefore, the key to the forest map. 



The State is marked in its topographic features, which are in 

 some degree the expression of the geologic differences, and 

 diverse forms of the topography affect to some extent the soil 

 conditions and the vegetation. The differences in height are 

 not great enough to make zones of climate, but they have an 

 influence in determining the habitat or locality which is favor- 

 able to certain species or varieties of trees and unfavorable to 

 others, and in giving character to the forest as an assemblage of 

 trees. 



