Mr. Pickett. 
424 DISCUSSION: FORESTS, RESERVOIRS, AND STREAM FLOW 
was estimated as about equal to that of the pine forests already existing 
on the timber belt. 
It was also pointed out that, from the writer’s 15 or 20 years’ 
observations, the snow in these open areas usually melted and flowed 
to the valleys during May or the first days of June, a month or six 
weeks earlier than the snows stored up in the forest reservoirs. These 
remarks are confined to localities within the timber belt. 
The writer also stated his belief that the early melting of the 
snows on these open plateaus around the higher portion of the entire 
Missouri River water-shed is the principal cause of the “June Rise” in 
that stream. 
Evidently these plateaus were once clothed with forests, and 
Nature teaches that these areas, with few exceptions, can be re- 
clothed with forests by using the means that Science prescribes. 
When that is accomplished, the winter’s snows will melt so gradually 
during the early summer as to prevent those spasmodic floods of the 
local streams which, when finally combined in the main stream, 
become known at its mouth as the “June Rise.” 
By the remedies advocated this flood will be held back at least a 
month, and considerably modified in intensity and volume. 
It was also pointed out that one factor in retarding the melting 
of snow during the first warm months is the comparatively low 
temperature of the air at such elevations as the timber belt; that 
after the snow commences melting in the forests there are few nights 
in June, July, or August when the temperature is not low enough to 
form a snow crust firm enough to bear the weight of a man or even 
a horse. The actual melting of the snow occurs during about one- 
quarter of the 24 hours. The warm currents of air circulating 
through the timber cause the surface of the snow to soften, and hence 
the crusting at night. 
In open areas, on account of the radiation of the heat given out 
during the day, the temperature is not as low as in the timber, the 
crusting of the snow is not as effectual, and its melting goes on 
during at least three-fourths of the 24 hours, and in the direct rays 
of the sun is much more rapid, and at times continues during the 
entire night. 
Another consideration affects the melting of snow in the timber 
belt: The accumulated snows of winter represent what has fallen in 
different layers or storms from September to May. With the rain or 
melted snow that falls in May, June, and July, the water used during 
the irrigating season represents, as before explained, the entire precipi- 
tation, practically, for the year ending September 1st. The layers 
of snow that fall in December, January, February, and March are 
deposited, and, before the subsequent layer falls, are subjected to 
temperatures ranging from 20 to 40° below zero, depending on the 
winter conditions. 
