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most favorable to forest growth, as affording maximum conditions of 
moisture and minimum evaporation. 
The soil in which these forests grow consists, for the most part, of 
decomposed rock (or gravel) mingted with sand. A thin surface layer 
of humus aids, ordinarily, in the retention of moisture, but in dry sea- 
‘sons it is a source of danger, promoting the spread of fire. 
The surface is usually quite sloping—in many cases extremely so— 
and the soil, deficient in clay or other coherent substances, is easily 
moved by the action of water. When, therefore, the slopes have been 
stripped of their natural covering, the violent rain storms of the region 
have a powerful and disastrous effect upon them. The light surface 
mold is carried downward to the valleys, more or less remote, and is 
soon followed by masses of sand and gravel. The mountain side, which 
was formerly clothed with a noble forest, now seamed and furrowed by 
the torrents, has become a barren waste—beyond reclamation. Condi- 
tions identical with these are very apparent along the front range in 
Colorado, and in many parts of the mining districts throughout the 
mountain region. 
Even in the most favored districts, where the forests have been re- 
moved their renewal is extremely difficult. Nature does much in such 
cases, however, and though the original species may not be reproduced, 
an inferior growth often appears. The extent of natural reforestation 
varies greatly in different localities. In New Mexico, with greater de- 
erees of heat and aridity than prevail farther north, the second growth 
is proportionately less vigorous. Where fierce forest fires have scorched 
the ground and destroyed the vegetable mold, the difficulty of reforesta- 
tion is usually greatly enhanced. On the other hand, it is alleged that 
in some instances the action of fire serves to open the.cones or outer 
coverings of certain tree seeds, and thus affords them a chance to take 
root and grow. It has been said, also, that the ashes produced by a 
forest fire enriches the soil, and to that extent promotes the reproduc- 
tion of trees. But these are at best only mitigating facts, if they are 
facts, attending the almost inestimable loss resulting from forest fires.* 
In what has been said above concerning reforestation, reference has — 
been made to spontaneous growth. While the necessity is great for 
restoring to the denuded slopes of the Rocky Mountains their once useful 
and beautiful forest covering the expediency of attempting the aytifi- 

* These are facts only in the imagination of those who wish to find an excuse for 
the unmitigated nuisance of forest fires. No cones need the action of fire to .be 
opened; a sufficient quantity would be opened by the heat of the sun, without de- 
stroying the seeds, as the fire does. No trees need the enriching quality of the ashes, 
but their seeds do need very much the vegetable mold, as a bed in which to germ- 
inate and to be supplied with the needful moisture which the mold provides, but 
which the ashes are not capable of storing up. 
The fires, not only of this year, but those of years back, have destroyed the chances 
of natural reforestation by seed in many places, because they have destroyed the 
proper seed-bed.—B. E. F. 

