RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO 5 



DOUGLAS FIB 



There is one kind only of Douglas fir. It has flat leaves, three- 

 quarters to 1% inches long, apparently with a short stem joining 

 them to branches. The cones hang down on long, stout stems, 2 to 

 4 inches long, with 3-pronged bracts protruding from between the 

 cone scales. 



BROADLEAF TREES 



ASPEN 



Aspen has flat, nearly heart-shaped leaves about 2 inches across that tremble 

 characteristically in a breeze. Bark whitish or very pale green, smooth with 

 black scars where branches have dropped off. Trees rarely more than 20 feet 

 high. (Commonly called quaking aspen or quaking asp locally.) 



NABROW-LEAF COTTONWOOD 



Narrow-leaf cottonwood is usually a tall tree, 40 to 60 feet high. Bark dark 



gray, heavily ridged half or two-thirds of the way up the tree ; above that 



smooth, pale green. Leaves one-fourth to one-half inch wide by 2 to 3 inches 

 long, very similar to willow leaves. 





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Fig. 5. — Excellent summer range for San Luis Valley herds 



ALDER 



Alder is found along and overhanging the streams, usually in clumps, several 

 trees growing from the same root, frequently 4 to 6 inches in diameter and 

 15 to 25 feet high. Leaves large and sharply double-toothed. Matured seed- 

 bearing fruit noticeable in winter. 



THE FORAGE CROP 



Grasses and weeds suitable for forage are found in many of the 

 timber stands and in the parks and large open areas above timber 

 line. Wild game has always roamed over these natural pastures, but 

 they require only a small part of the available growth. The bulk of 

 the forage is available for domestic stock. 



The grazing of livestock is, in general, a secondary use on the 

 national forests, but at this time it is the largest activity on the Kio 



