Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-03
FORESTRY WORK IN THE SANTA
MONICA CANON.


that will be of great service to the
farmers and arboriculturists of the Pa
cific coast. We allude to the author
lied labors of the forestry commission.
For some years past there has been
quite interesting series of experiments
in the Santa Monica cafion, where one
of the two stations whose maintenance
is provided for by law is established, the
other being in the northern belt OF
counties. We presume it was located
there because it was sought to see what
could be done in light soil, in no way
recommended by special advantages. A
half a mile or so above the mouth OF the
caiion Col. r. S. Baker and Senator
John P. Jones donated to the commits
sion, for the state, twenty acres of land,
to be applied to experiments in the
domestication of various kinds of forest
trees. This land was overgrown with
chapparal, and most of it is of a light
and gravelly soil. It has been grubbed
out and planted in trees which, it is
supposed, will be of great value to this
section. Water for the purposes OF the
station is supplied by the Santa Monica
creek, and is forced to the higher land
by an hydraulic ram. A neat cottage
for the foreman, and an unfinished
building, which it is proposed to con-
vert into museum, constitute the
buildings on this station.
The experiments have scarcely, as yet,
been fairly inaugurated. The appor
tionments have been small, and every
thing connected with the work has been
purely tentative. The aim has been to
coniine the experiments to trees of de-
cided utility. Amongst these the wat
tie figures largely, and with good re-
suits. This plant can be grown with
great profit in California, and the young
nurseries at Santa Monica are doing
finely. 1t is extremely rich in tannic
oil. At five years OF age one-third of its
weight is said to consist OF that valuable
staple, 80 useful in tanning leather.
There is great variety of forest trees in
nursery, and number of useful plants
and shrubs, including the ramie, of
which 30 much has been written of late.
On portion of the tract an expert
ment has been tried which cannot fail
to interest those who have to meet the
cost of grubbing out chapparal, chemisal
and other stunted and undergrowths.
Eucalyptus sprouts were planted all over
this portion, wherever hoe could be
inserted in the soil. The idea was to see
whether they would make rapid
growth, go that, in few years, the fuel
which could be sold from them would
pay for the grubbing of the land. Com
missioner Byrne is of opinion that the
results were all that could be expected.
Experiments of highly successful
kind have been made in hedges. The
English oak is taking kindly to domes-
tication in Santa Monica soil. A great
many varieties of eucalyptus are en-
countered all over the tract, one patch
having sixty.three varieties growing
companionably together. Perhaps the
most interesting specimen of this tree
in the United States is on the land
owned by Mr.. Coils P. Huntington, on
the bluff looking down upon the site of
the new wharf of the Southern Pacific
railroad. 1t is the genuine boomerang
eucaly plus, from which the Aus
tralian savage makes his famous
weapon. Two specimens Of this
plant were sent to Commissioner Byrne.
Both xuoro y,1outoJ Lyt ~ n of tho ~, d;adi,
At that time Mr.. Byrne supposed that
the forestry commission had secured the
land on which the boomerangs had been
planted. 1t is specially hard wood, of
fine grain, and takes a high polish. The
commissioners have also taken the bam-
boo in hand, and have go far had very
satisfactory success. 1t is Of slow growth
at the start, but is very rapid grower
after it has been rooted couple of
years, shooting up to height of thirty
or forty feet in single year.
We intend merely to indicate the
scope of the plans of the commissioners.
They aim to demonstrate the prac-
ticability of growing trees here whose
usefulness or beauty have c@used them
to be looked upon with favor in other
localities. In their experiments they
will, OF course, keep constantly in mind
the fact that they are forestry COM
mission, and that they have nothing to
do with fruit trees or fora. When. they
have come to regard any special forest tree
as specially adapted to this region they
accumulate large nursery stock of it,
and send it to those persons who may
be supposed to be interested in continu-
ing the experiments, the only condition
exacted being that the benefciaries
shall keep the commissioners acquainted
with the progress of the plants so
donated. In most cases this is done,
and in time the information thus ac-
cumulated of the adaptability of the
various plants to their new habitat can
not fail to be very valuable. and to re-
dound to the material benefit of the
state. Great quantities of these plants
have been already distributed, and the
good work has only fairly begun.
While we have not designed to be
minute in our notice of the state planta-
tions in Santa Monica caflon, we cannot
forbear celebrating one plant the silver
tree of Capetown, Africa. It's name is
most appropriate. 1t is symmetrical
-. - ,sou,o 30 n bo..L4 IS