A STUDY OF THE REDWOOD. 



11 



The slope of the ground and the uneven height and density of the 

 different species in mixture admit enough light to make the Redwood 

 Slope comparatively open, so that, except where lires are frequent, 

 there is a dense undergrowth of huckleberry, salal. Oregon g'rape, 

 thimbleberry, and ferns. 



Differences in altitude and the steepness of the slope cause differ- 

 ences in the condition of the forest. The higher the altitude and the 

 steeper the slope, the sparser and poorer the growth becomes. 



THE REDWOOD FLAT. 



As the slopes become moderate, the altitude lower, the soil deeper, 

 and the water supply better, the Redwood steadily gains on the other 

 species and the forest becomes denser, until, on the rich flats and 

 gulches, a second tvpe is evolved. This is the Redwood Flat (PI. II), 

 and in its extreme form it has no other tree than Redwood. 



The .surveys for the following tables were taken on level ground, 

 where the soil was deep and the moisture abundant. 



Table 2.— Redwood Flat. 



Locality and species. 



Trees 4 inches and 

 over in diame- 

 ter breasthigh. 



Trees 

 inches 

 ameter 

 high. 



4 to 19 

 in di- 

 breast- 



Trees 20 inches and over in 

 diameter breasthigh. 



Average 

 number 

 of trees 

 per acre. 



Percent- 

 age of 

 each 

 species. 



Average 

 number 

 of trees 

 per acre. 



Percent- 



ageof 



each 



species. 



Average 

 number 

 of trees 

 per acre. 



Percent- 

 age of 

 each 



species. 



Average 

 diameter 

 breast- 

 high. 



CRESCENT CITY. 



Redwood 



37.10 



19.16 



3.02 



63 

 32 



5 



12.79 

 16.02 



1.93 



42 



52 

 6 



24.31 



3.14 

 1.09 



85 

 11 



4 



Inches. 

 84 



Hemlock 



Spruce 



28 

 31 



Total 



59. 23 



100 



30.74 





100 



28. .54 



100 





SCOTIA AND BYERVILLE. 



Redwood 



50.50 





14. .31 







36. 20 





76 









The Eel River stands are the extreme form of the Redwood Flat, 

 and the tree here attains its greatest known height and clear length. 

 On the benches that line the stream the Redwood possesses all the 

 growing space, and casts a shade so dense that no ground cover except 

 oxalis and occasional tufts of sword fern will grow beneath it. 



While the heaviest stands and the best timber are found on the 

 Redwood Flat, this tvpe comprises a very small percentage of the Red- 

 wood forest, being confined mainly to narrow strips along the streams, 

 occasional coastal plains, and the river deltas. The "rough countr\'," 

 as the Redwood slopes are called, so far exceeds the Redwood flats in 

 extent that the proportion of the former to the latter is about 50 to 1. 



