SURVEYS OF FOREST RESERVES. 71 



the flre with bright flame even when the bark had not fallen. Dead 

 standing stubs from 50 to 90 feet high assisted powerfully in spreading 

 the damage, for the flre ascends such trunks beneath the bark, reap- 

 pearing at intervals, and burning flercely under the chimney- like draft 

 established. Instead of falling at once such stubs break off high above 

 the ground from time to time and scatter burning fragments far and 

 wide. In heavy winds the blazing bark is detached and carried far 

 ahead of the main fire, and so forms a powerful factor in carrying and 

 spreading the conflagration. To extinguish this particular flre, which 

 was said to have been wantonly started by a party of campers, would 

 have required the labor of several men for at least a day. 



Fires in the open yellow pine do much less serious damage and are 

 far easier to control. 



WATER, EASTERN SLOPE. 



The effect of forests on irrigation in the lava area of the southern 

 portion is probably not important, since all rain sinks at once into the 

 ground and reappears in the enormous springs which dot the country 

 here and there. Farther north the question is different. The testimony 

 on this point is conflicting, but by far the greater weight of evidence 

 tends to show that the flow of streams has already been seriously influ- 

 enced by forest ttres. The supply of water from this slope is very 

 important to local settlements and should be protected. 



V 



MINING, EASTERN SLOPE. 



T am not aware that mines of any importance have been developed 

 or that prospects for such development exist. 



AGRICULTURE, EASTERN SLOPE. 



Agriculture within the reserve can never be important. A few 

 ranches are included by the boundaries, but, so far as known, little 

 cultivation is carried on, as the climate is unfavorable. 



GRAZING, EASTERN SLOPE. 



The most important question touching the reserve at this time regards 

 the pasturage of sheep. During the past summer about 190,000 sheep 

 were grazed within the reserve, two thirds of which occupied ranges on 

 the eastern slope. The careful investigation of Mr. Coville, botanist 

 of the Department of Agriculture, the study by Mr. Henry S. Graves 

 under my direction in 1896, and other trustworthy evidence leave no 

 room to doubt that the pasturage of sheep on any area constitutes, so 

 long as it lasts, a prohibitory tax on the reproduction of the forest. 



It can not be questioned that sheep grazing in this reserve owes its 

 existence directly to forest fires. Without such fires the openings 

 where the sheep feed would never have been made, nor, after they were 

 made, would many of them have been kept so free from trees. It is 

 almost equally certain that sheep herders in the past have been in the 

 habit of setting fires, although the evidence at hand goes to show that 

 of late years this practice has been largely discontinued. Grazing in 

 fresh burns is apt to be followed by the discoloration and cheapening 

 of the wool. 



Sheep do not feed on the leaves or seedlings of coniferous trees, 

 except in the way of desultory nibbling or when at the point of starva- 

 tion. The harm which they do is of another character altogether. The 



