147 



SIERRA COUNTY. 

 (Area, 3,200 square niilos; estimated forest area, 250 square miles.) 



This county is situated iu southwestern 'New Mexico. Its surface 

 includes mountains, valleys, and mesas. Tlie Eio Grande Eiver, its 

 most important stream, traverses the east-central x)art from north to 

 south, and its broad valley embraces a large section of arable land. 



The county is well watered, and the table lands of the western por- 

 tion afford good pasturage. 



The forests are mainly situated in the Black Eange at the northwest. 

 Pine and Fir are the predominant trees at the higher elevations j Juni- 

 per and Oak are found on the foot-hills and mesas, and a growth of Ma- 

 ple and Walnut borders some of the streams. 



When the forests have been destroyed they are rarely, if ever, repro- 

 duced. The second growth is usually Scrub Oak. 



The large streams are not as continuous in their flow as they were be- 

 fore the timber in the mountains was cut off. There are more floods and 

 longer periods of drought. Many of the small streams have wholly 

 failed. 



SOCORRO COUNTY. 



(Area, 16,500 square miles; estimated forest area, 2,050 square miles.) 



This county has several classes of lands — the agricultural^ which are 

 found on the Eio Grande and other streams traversing the county; the 

 uplands or mesas, especially adapted to grazing ; and the mountain 

 ranges, upon which the forests are mainly situated. In addition to the 

 above, the San Augustine Plains, centrally situated, cover an estimated 

 area of 2,000 square miles, and are wholly destitute of trees. In the 

 eastern part of the county is a wide extent of desert, embracing barren 

 plains, lava beds, treeless mountain ranges, and "Mai pais." 



From one-third to one-half of the county is sparsely covered with for- 

 ests, if all classes of growth are considered. Along the northern slopes 

 of the Piiion and Datil Mountains, upon the Magdalena Mountains, 

 the San Francisco and Mogollon Eanges, and on the higher portions of 

 the Black Eange are forests composed mainly of the Yellow and White 

 Pine and Eed, or Douglas, Fir. Extensive tracts of large Pines are 

 rare, although there are a few in the western part of the county. 

 About four-fifths of the entire forest area consists of a small growth of 

 Pine, Cedar, Juniper, and Oak. Burned tracts of limited extent are 

 common, but they are usually confined to the scrub growths. Aspen 

 covers large areas in the mountains. Other species native to the re- 

 gion are Mountain Mahogany, several varieties of Oak, Walnut, Mes- 

 quit. Box-elder, Water Maple, Cottonwood, Willow, and Wild Cherry. 



After the destruction of the forests, from any cause, there is hardly 

 any chance for their renewal. Tracts burned over ten years ago are 

 still barren. 



