The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-24
CREATING NEW FORESTS,
A forest Nucsery Located in the Santa
Barbara Reserve to Reforest lmpOr-
tant Watersheds in California.

"' NeSoEFe 10 Ke1OTeSt lmpOr-
tant Watersheds in California.
California and other western
states have proved the efficacy of IT.
rlgatlon in promoting agriculture,
but there are millions of acres of
fertile land unused through lack of
suthcient water. Much of this land
Will be reclaimed by the gigantic
irrigation works planned by the
National Government, but the scope
OF this work is limited by the amount
OF water available. The influence
OF forests in conserving a limited
rainfall is recognized, but they are
often wanting where most needed.
Thus forest planting is often neces-
sary.
An example of what tle Bureau
OF Forestry is doing in this direction
is furnished by the nursery which
it is establishing IS miles from Santa
Barbara, in Southern California.
This is the fourth forest nursery
which the Bureau has established
within western forest reserves. No
where in California is water needed
more than in the coast plain east
and southeast of Santa Barbara To
cover large areas with new tree
growth, however, in regions where
the forest can not naturally restore
itself, is difficult matter. Unless
great care is used in the selection
of species and in the cultural meth
DDS employed. the work is likely to
prove failure. Methods which
would succeed on small pianta-
ton are impracticable on large
scale on account of the expense.
The nursery in the Santa Bar
bara Reserve will be planted with
seed of trees likely to flourish in
that region. Coulter and yellow
pine will be most largely planted.
The seedlings will be ready to trans
plant to their permanent locations
two years hence.
The first attempt at reforesting
will be made on the upper water
shed of the Ynez River, which sup
plies the town of Santa Barbara with
water. This town of only 10000
inhabitants is spending 5000, 600 to
secure a good water supply. A
dam and reservoir for this purpose
are now under construction. The
Santa Ynez watershed is now bare
or poorly covered with chaparral.
A good forest growth is necessary
both to conserve the water and to
prevent the washing down of silt,
which if unchecked would even
tually fill and ruin the reservoir.
The success of the transp1anting
will depend largely upon the season
In excessively dry years good re-
suits can not be expected, and the
Bureau must take advantage OF a
wet season. Preparations for the
transplanting will be begun immed'
lately, so that quick work can be
done the first favorable season alter
the seedlings are old enough.
In the whole of the Santa Bar
bara Forest Reserve, which con
tains nearly two million acres, there
are only two groves of any size
There is, therefore, large oppor
tunity for the extension of the work
of tree planting, if it proves sue
cessful.
In Nebraska the Bureau of For
estry has demonstrated its ability tc
solve the same kind of difficulties
with which it is confronted in Cali
fornia, and has successfully estab
lished forest plantations at an ex
tremely low cost, If it can do th'
same in Southern California it will
be an important work for the vel
fare of the region.
He Talked Too Much.