71 



most favorable to forest growth, as affording raaxiinum conditions of 

 moisture and minimum evaporation. 



The soil in which these forests grow consists, for the most part, of 

 decomposed rock (or gravel) mingled 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, ilature does much in such 

 cases, however, and though the original species may not be reproduced, 

 an inferior growth often api3ears. The extent of natural reforestation 

 varies greatly in dilierent localities. In Kew Mexico, with greater de? 

 grees 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 artifi- 



* 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- 

 stroyirig the seeds, as the fire does. No trees need the enriching quality of the ashes, 

 but their seeds do need very much tbe vegetable mold, as a bed in whicb to germ- 

 inate and to be supplied with the needful moisture which the mold provides, but 

 which the ashes are not capable of storing np. 



The fires, not only of this year, but those of years back, have destroyed tlie chances 

 of natural reforestation by seed in many places, because Ihey have destroyed the 

 proper seed-bed. — B. E. F. 



