A MISCELLANEOUS CIRCULAR 36, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



nated as a national game preserve, dedicated to the preservation of 

 wild animals and birds of national importance. By the act of 

 March 4, 1907, all forest reserves were redesignated as national forests, 

 and the Wichita area became the Wichita National Forest and Game 

 Preserve. 



TREE GROWTH 



When compared with the bountiful hardwood forests of the Appa- 

 lachians, the pineries of the South, or the magnificent timber of the 

 Pacific Northwest, the somewhat scrubby and scattered white-oak 

 groves of the Wichita National Forest seem insignificant. Never- 

 theless, when one considers the hundreds of square miles of almost 

 treeless prairies which stretch away beyond the range of vision on all 

 sides from the Wichita Mountains, these shady groves, sheltering 

 springs of sparkling mountain water and affording delightful resting 

 places for relief from the heat of the plains, take on great importance 

 both economically and aesthetically. 



TREE PLANTING 



About 15 years ago six plantations were started on the forest. 

 These are designated as Cedar Creek planting, Panther Creek plant- 

 ing, Elm Springs planting, Pleasant Valley planting, Reck planting, 

 and Baker Peak planting. Native juniper, osage orange, black and 

 honey locust, black walnut, and mulberry were planted. Some of the 

 plantations have been very successful and are among the show spots 

 of the forest. The juniper and osage orange plantations known as 

 Cedar Creek planting and Elm Springs planting are almost perfect 

 stands with forest conditions completely established. 



These planted groves serve as excellent refuges for birds and game 

 and have justified themselves from that standpoint alone. A more 

 extensive program of planting is being considered on the basis of 

 economic as well as wild-life value. 



LIVESTOCK GRAZING 



About 2,600 head of cattle owned by ranchers in the vicinity of 

 the forest graze during the summer season in pastures which are not 

 needed for the wild game. Grazing on the forest is an essential 

 part of the livestock industry of the region and is handled by means 

 of permits issued to the owners. 



LONGHORN CATTLE 



The first cattle to set foot on America's shores were brought in 

 by the Spanish in 1521. These were calves which became the 

 progenitors of the millions of longhorn cattle that spread rapidly, 

 fanwise, from Vera Cruz over the coastal plains of Texas and the 

 Great Plains regions to the far West. They thrived from the very 

 first, until Texas at the close of the Civil War was overflowing with 

 longhorn cattle. From the Gulf to Canada this hardy breed pressed 

 the Indian and buffalo back until the whole country was theirs. 

 In the course of progress, however, they had to give way to improved 

 breeds, and in a comparatively few years were booming extinct 



