84 



but also that their formation has heen preveuted by reforesting and returfing the 

 denuded mountain slopes. If in the Rocky Mountains the occurrence of these dan- 

 gers is not so frequent and disastrous as it has proved to be in Switzerland, Tyrol, 

 and other European mountain regions, this may be partly due to differences of climate 

 and geologic conditions. The presumption, however, is that the frequency and ef- 

 fects of such slides will be duly recorded in our mountain regions with the increase 

 of settlements and decrease of forest cover. As a proper protection against snow- 

 slides is even now called for, a chapter on their formation and prevention has been 

 appended to this report. — B. E. F. 



LOSS OF FOLIAGE. 



In the early part of the year 1885 exteDsive belts of conifers along 

 the Pike's Peak and Front ranges, in Colorado, suffered a loss of blight- 

 ing of foliage, which many supposed would result in the death of the 

 trees. 



luquiry developed the fact that such occurrences, though rare in this 

 region, were not without precedent, and were probably caused by sudden 

 and extreme atmospheric changes. The trees so affected usually regain 

 their foliage, although it is believed their vitality is impaired. 



RELATIONS OF FOKEST PRESERVATION TO AGRICULT- 

 URE. 



In all countries the relations between forests and agriculture are more 

 or less intimate. The forests receive moisture from the atmosphere, 

 store it in their recesses, and through springs and running streams send 

 it forth to water the land. Forests in proper proportion meliorate the 

 severities of climate, rendering a country habitable for man and adapted 

 to the growth of fruits and grains suited to his needs. Floods and 

 droughts seldom occur in a region of forests. Forest products enter 

 into all human activities, and it may be said that the race could not 

 exist in the absence of forests. 



In the Rocky Mountain region, where arid or semi-arid conditions 

 prevail, the most important office performed by the forests is the con- 

 servation and distribution of moisture. The countries at the base of 

 the mountains, and surrounding them, would be uninhabitable were it 

 not for the forests which partiall^^ clothe the latter. Were tne mount- 

 ains wholly stripped of that covering which nature has so wisely be- 

 stowed upon them, but little moisture would be gathered from the atmos- 

 phere, violent storms would often occur, and torrents and seasons of 

 drought would take the place of existing conditions. 



In this region the direct dependence of agriculture upon the forests 

 is more plainly seen than elsewhere. Except in a few localities, field 

 crops, orchards, and gardens are cultivated with the aid of irrigation 

 systems, the water for which is taken from the mountain streams. 

 Should the forests be destro.yed, the streams, irrigation systems, and 

 crops would meet a similar fate. 



