15 



growth. If to " what is" we add the conception of " what onght to be," 

 timber land would include also, in a mountainoas region at least, all 

 that treeless area which, not fit for agriculture or not needed in the de- 

 velopment of mines, etc., can and should bear a tree growth and pro- 

 duce a timber crop. 



In this connection the report of Mr. Abbot Kinney on the forest con- 

 dition of the southern counties of California will be read with interest, 

 showing that the timber lands in which the state should be concerned 

 do not always contain ^' timber " of the kind in which the lumberman or 

 other private owner would interest himself. For the preservation of 

 favorable hydrologic and agricultural conditions even care of the 

 " chaparral " may be of service. 



To the student of the forest botany of the region the careful compila 

 tion by Mr. George B. Sud worth, of the division, will be welcome. The 

 main effort has been to so arrange and describe all the woody plants of 

 the region that the layman may be enabled, without much unnecessary 

 technical terminology, to get acquainted with them ; but at the same 

 time the scientific botanist will find much aid in such a comi^ilation, for 

 which all authorities have been carefully consulted and, after due sift 

 ing, a truthful statement of facts attempted. 



As it is the object of this bulletin to aid in forming a basis for intel- 

 ligent forestry legislation, it seemed desirable to note what action had 

 been attempted in the national legislature looking toward a better 

 administration of the timber lands of the nation. 



Mr. Egleston, of the division, has, for this i)urpose, compiled a com- 

 plete reference table to this kind of legislation, from which it appears 

 that attempts to effect a change have not been unfrequent, although 

 unsuccessful. No doubt the more pressing interests of the day have 

 excluded from the halls of Congress proper consideration of the vital 

 interests of the future. 



Since there does exist in the region a Government reserve of timbered 

 country — though not by any means created with a view to the needs of 

 forestry — it was desirable to give special information as to its conditions 

 and its further needs at the hand of Government. Ko more competent 

 writer for this task could have been found than Mr. Arnold Hague, for 

 several years geologist in-charge of the National Park; a man thoroughly 

 acquainted with the ground, of broad views, and alive to the important 

 interests depending on such timber reservations. The letter which he 

 kindly consented to contribute, will, it is hoped, stir up an interest in 

 those who, while in sympathy with the idea of the National Park, can 

 not rise to the broader conception of national forestry. 



A chapter on snow-slides, prepared by the writer, will give an imper- 

 fect intimation of what direct dangers may be expected from forest dev- 

 astation in the mountains, and how to meet them. 



The concluding pages, kindly contributed by Mr. Parsons, will be 

 read with interest by those who, in the plains of the region in question. 



