The herald., 1896-08-24
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FOREST NOTES
ON A TRIP
BY ABBOT KINNEY

The summer rain laid the dust for our
trip and filled up the streams for the irr!-
gators. These have been unusually low. At
the same time. 1t gave the irrigators about
Redlands an irrigation--thus confirming
the proverb that 1t never rains but it pours.
Redlands, Mentone and the country about
through which we drove have all improved
wonderfully.
The extensive planting of fruit trees
that has been made look thrifty and well.
The success of the growers Is shown by
the very general summer vacation these
give their families A favorite place for
all the orange districts Is the mountain
Oaks, well up in the Santa Ana valley. has
the reputation of the best table and ths
best trout fishing; The road leads out OF
and wash of Mill creek. This large stream
heads between Grayback and Mount San
Bernardino: Its whole force is now used at
Along the course of Mill creek elders, syca-
mores and cottonwoods predominate. Fur
large acrons, appears, and then como tha
long coned Southern California spruce.
This is the same spruce as that OF the
in a widening Of Mill creek there comes in
another talkative stream and up there the
stage goes to the end of of the road at
Here is lunch and change of baggage to
pack train and of human beings to burros
or horses. The apple tree appears here also.
In fact, all through the mountains fine,
thrifty apple trees may be seen. The frui.
Of these is very fine, as good if not better
rhan shn the r9
up picturesque canyon through forest
that slowly changes as you progress. First
on the mountain sides and alders in the
water course. then the pine and cedar
struggle in and the black deciduous. oak.
whose acorns are sought by the squirrels
and the Indians. takes the place of the live
oak. The live oaks vary very much in foli-
age, and 1t may eventually be determined
be divided into two or more pretty soon.
The pines dominate everything, and the
spruce is left behind as much as any low
lander. In the mountain fats and on the
rolling crests. often quite broad, the air is
balmy with the odor of the pine. There are
several species of pines on this road, the
yellow pine, Up. ponderosa) is the most
numerous. There are also many of the
graceful sugar pines with the long cones
out on the % hs enqs fbs OF the
Coulter pine, with its large hooked cone,
close set on the main stem is great con
h aTe Rns er are aso on
few of the valuable food producing plnon
pines. The country. nearly everywhere
fires kill but few trees: at other times ex-
tensive areas are killed out entirely. One
of the oldest resident mountaineers. a set
tier since 1875 says that every case of fire
Injuries a watershed in its water holding
capacity The floods are increased and
become more dangerous in cutting and
boulderS. Amongst their destructive re-
suits is the killing of the stream trout.
On the other hand the springs are dimin-
tions agree with the tenets of forestry:
Lewis says that burned brush covered
mountain results in even more damage to
the watershed than the burning through
forest of trees.
A recent large mountain fire near Bear
valley was apparently set In NUMBER OF OF
serve 1t in such destruction is hard TO see.
The heavy rain finally quenched 1t. but the
baeaene,d landscape and eea up be Wind
continues in the south and continues
local storms send rain on the @ gratetu,
mountains. The rain was necessary; as
dead alders along some or the drlea up !,
small streams showed. The Santa Ana Is
lower than since 1879.
The fires, unless stopped. will eventually
kill the pines and spruces entirely Ihese
are already showing weak reproductive
power and are being gradqadIiHb nd ibe rfae haisa
fir. This fir is vigorous grower. and
very handsome tree. The incense cedar
seems to be gaining gn + ~ fftle itte value Tbs
is because the trees have grown in too
open order. The lower branches have con-
sequently continued on too long e ana t leave l,e
bad knots through the timber or the large
trees. Nothing is so clear as that this inter
esting and valuable mountain water moi
ment This management of the govern
ment forest reserve should be liberal. MN
ing should be encouraged and not impeded.
Tie beauties of this extensive and health
giving mountain country should be pre-
Served. It's use by climate seekers or Al
pine climbers should not be, denied. And
above all things. the water holding power
of the great range, Of San Bernardlno an, and
the Sierra Madre should be preserved. The
charms of these mountains and the value
of the climate is only commencing to he
known. 1t is full time that the increasing
numbers visiting the whole Of these ran,ges
from Los Angeles to San Bernardino,
shoid be projected on the one side from fire
and Hood, growing out Of carelessness and
Ignorance, and on the other from any pre-
vention of legitimate enjoyment of the
reservation. Electrical power, water
rights and reservoirs. timber, fuel. mining
and hunting and fishing have all got to be
looked after and provided for. and often
regulated. The visiting scientific men of
distinction now on this coast, have the duty
to suggest to the government what it
should do about the manSgemant o. its
forests. Their names and abilities give
great confidence that they will offer wise
measures and such ones that congress will
enact