Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-15
HOW FORESTS WERE
CHANGED TO BARE
PLAINS
INDIANS BURNED TREES
IN STATE OF KANSAS
Professor Believes He Has Now
Solved the Mystery of Early
Days; Re-ForeSting Making
Good Roadway,

~
Topeka, June 1~4.-Experts Mt the
agricultural college at last have
found the true reason why The
piaiIies OF Kansas are trcelcss. II IL
not on account OF the soil or the eli
mate. The blame is laid upon prairie
Tires during the time the Indians m
habitcd the plains. The fires were
started deliberately by the Kansas
Indians to discourage the winter vis-
its of northern Indians. Now that
such fires are n thing of the past,
forest trees win develop owe the en-
tire plains, unless destroyed by tho
pillow OF axe.
"Early settlers remember the In
dian story of how the prailies would
be burned to keep northern Indians
from Nintering in kansas said Pro-
fesscr Albert Dickens of the agricul-
tuIal college. IAN the prairie north
of the Arkansas would be burned.
The deer m buffalo would desert
the burned tract and the rowing In
dian would find 10 pasture Tor his
war horse Or pack pony. And all the
time The fire was the factor that kept
the timber growth from en|eroaching
upon the domain Of the prairie.
Wherever the river banks were SUI
ficiently broken to check the fire,
timber grew. 4 striking example of
this Is furnished by Cedar Bluffs, in
II ego county, where the uplands,
protected by q high cliff at the riV-
cr's edge. is completely covered with
q good growth Of red cedar. In
Hodgcman county, Buckncr creek
fun nishcs another example. The
creek has cut through the deep soil,
leaving occasional high banks, and
in The creek bed good growths of
blackberry. elm, willow and cotton
wood are MINOR
The Arkansas and Cimarron riv-
ets end their Kansas tributaries flow
for the greater part of their lengths
through aluvial soils. There are few
rocky lodges and few high banks, and
FOR the most part the prairie grass
grovs up t. the very edge of the low
bank. Wherever banks or broken
surface afforded protection, trees
We're found.
"Since the prairie fires have been
restricted and the fuel need of the
settler supplied by the coal miner
freight cat, the area Of natural
timber has increased at q most graft
lying rate. Thirty years ago the
Arkansas. west of Hutchinson, and
its tributaries from the south, prac-
tically were devoid Of trees. Today
there are many acres that are under
forest conditions and the forest area
is increasing. Most of this growth is
cottonwood and willow. species that
produces large quantities of seed that
is blown long distances and germin-
very soon after r%ipening. Spe-
cies that produce heavier seeds are
49,. lsL..!I..t ~ . t.,I4I,. and tIn
time required for their distribution
over q given area is very much
greater. With natures slow methods
centuries of the most favorable con
ditions would probably be required to
the area Of heavy-secded spc-
cics. but as The forest area increases
forest inhabitants-hirds, squir-
Iels and ether animals-increase in
numbers, Gnd these agents of distri-
button help. very slowly but surely, |
in the init oduction of other species.
The increase Of forest area in the
past has been confined for the most
part to the alluvial soils OF the val
soils easily change from prairie
20 forest because the soil is easily
by roots and well adapted
o nearly IN forms of plant life.
Mature extends the forest back
rom the streams alonw rnvines and
surfaces, end works from
.hcse beck into the upland prairie.
rhe struggle for existence between
and forest IS Q bitter one,
rhe species Is indeed TT TO survive
hDt can compete for existence with
he Notwithstanding buffalo grass.
}ut in the few localities where the
grass has been deprived Of its
HES, fire and cattle. the Forest is
,aIsSn.. f,notacy 4 fattr xtg1t sgf DttnN n /
# buffalo grass eccumulatcs. the
entail is held for u longer time by
he mulch on the soil. the buffalo
itself grows stronger and roots
Icepci, but it's prosperity ugu1s de-
act, for the bunch grass e%ncioachcs,
hen takes possession. ana is sue
eeded by blue stem. the roots ever
rowing deeper and the soil mulch
eavicr. Very little rainfall now es-
II buffalo grass lying close
, the ground, picked by hoofs n
akcd by sun held little water; but
the drought ann wilt the blue
tenn with it's roots five feet deep, !
a way for the soil writer. q
hen the shade from the trees. which I
al the time been gaining in I
.aVors The hoISewced, the buck {
ush and m appear. and these !
a nurse cfop FOL the tree seed; !
nd mp the slope, following the !
unch grass scouts and the skirmish a
ne Of sumac, the forest trees pro-
aim thcii title to he soil. The SCR
on they preach over and over is I
rat even the dryest. hardest soils y
grow trees Il only the soil be pre- !
AIRED for their needs" 4
4
ARLY MORNING FLIGHT q