The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

liable addition 10 German forestry. There
are other notable cases OF successful in
PRODUCTION TO foreign countries Of our
valuable native species. With the wide
range OF climate, soil. and other condi-
tions, even greater success may be ex-
pected in the introduction OF foreign spe-
cies to this country
Chinese Trees Do Well.
It is a well-known fact among those
who have studied the behavior OF ORR
entail trees in America that the Chi
nese species are peculiarly adapted TO
the climatic and soil conditions Of our
great plains. much more so than either
the European or japanese forms. Frank
Meyer, the agricultural explorer. who re-
recently returned from three years in
China, brought back number Of promls-
ing tree forms and discovered others in
the cold dry regions Of North China.
which may be well worth importing In
large quantities for reforestation pur-
poses in the West. It is expected that he
viii secure others on subsequent trips
into Central Asia.
A new dry land pine from West Asia,
the Chilgoza pine. growing wild In the
mountains Of Baluchistan. has quite re-
Gently been secured In considerable
quantity and is being distributed TO the
Forest Service Planting Stations for pre-
liminary trial II is not only z timber
tree, but produces unusually superior
pine nuts. such as are now served roasted
on our tables.
Rate of Growth Important.
Rate Of growth and hardness are TWO
Of the most important features II is
hoped to improve IN many OF the high
mountain forests Of the West Native
species are often lacking in these requi-
sites. which are the more important
where the forest must contend with a
short growing season and other adverse
conditions. A slightly increased rate of
growth in the individual trees means a
large increase in the productive capacity
Of a forest
AS an instance Of the possibilities in
this line: There are vast tracts in the
Rocky Mountains which are almost who'll
~ occupied by lodge-pole pine. a tree
whose rate Of growth is slow. Further
more, it is on ground frequently which
is capable Of supporting a pine Of better
quality and more rapid growth.
The native Engiemann spruce, which is
so important in protecting the sources OF
many mountain streams, might also be
replaced by a more rapid growing and
more durable spruce and still retain the
valuable protective feature OF the native
species. These and many other quail.
ties In American forests are subject TO
Improvement by constant experiment.
Would Improve Ranges.
It is desirable that an effort be made
10 improve the stock ranges in view Of
the constantly increasing overstocked
condition each year. There is always the
possibility that some foreign forage plant
might be found which by reason OF its
better reproduction under adverse con-
ditions would maintain the range in bet
ter condition than the species with which
we are familiar. forage plant not de-
pendent upon seed. but which can repro
duce and spread by means OF runners
and underground shoots would be inval-
ua0le. II would mean that the endurance
Of the range had been greatly increased.
How to increase the carrying capacity
OF the range IS bound 70 be much more
urgent in a few years than It Is now 1t
is, therefore. well within the province OF
the government 10 take steps TO meet the
situation before It arises. The work OF
plant Introduction in this country Is still
in its infancy and much may reasonably
be expected from il. AS the work Is car
ried on from year to year end more facts
are discovered. !ts usefulness must GER
tainly increase.