The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-09

VERY day was Arbor Day high
up on the slopes Of Pixies
Peak last spring. Government
forestry officials replanted a
vast area, which was fire
swept more than so years ago. Hun
dreds Of thousands OF pine seed and
young trees were planted on barren
slopes, marking the first important
step toward reforesting the entire
Rocky Mountain Range or so much
thereof as Is included in the National
Forests. With the denuded areas on
the slopes of the Rockies covered with
sturdy growth OF young trees, the
snowfall In the mountains will be
much slower in melting. This will
hold back the waters which now rush
to the Mississippi Valley from the
Rocky Mountain watershed in April
and May. These late floods have done
the most damage this season. as their
addition to streams already bank full
has proved too great strain for lev
ees to bear.
A force Of more than so men were
employed in the Pixies Peak region
for several weeks, planting seed or
young trees, according to the demands
Of the situation. The area that is be-
Ing reclaimed IL typical OF millions Of
acres Of once heavily wooded land In
the National forests. After being
swept by IRE, many years ago. the
reseeding process Of nature has proved
very slow, and the land has become
more barren every year. The soil
soil has been washed down the noun
tainside by rains. until in many places
only rocks are to be seen where once
there was goodly covering OF earth.
Charred and rotting trunks Of trees
are to be seen on every hand. and
nothing could be more desolate or
hopeless than these SCARED mountain
slopes.
The campaign against desolation
has been waged adroitly. No point
has been overlooked by the forestry
experts in carrying on the battle. II
snow fell, the planters were set to work
broadcasting seed In certain parts OF
the plantation, where such method
of planting seemed most advisable.
Broadcasting on the snow is one OF
the most effective methods OF planting
under certain conditions, and most Of
such work Is done on horseback. as
the seed, cast from great height, will
imbed itself deeply In the snow and
70 not likely to be blown away.
Requires Great Care.
Every day thin line OF skirmishers
climbed up and down the rockiest
slopes, each man carrying q bagful Of
seed at his side and small pick in his
hand. A hole was dug, with one blow
Of the instrument, and seed inserted
In the shallow covering Of the soil, or
In the earth-fllled crevice between two
stones. The men always work In a
line and become so expert at this
method Of planting that they climb up
and down the mountainsides In almost
perfect formation, and with incredible
rapidity. planting as they go.
In another part OF the plantation.
where It had been decided that seed
nlanting was not best, another line OF
administers planted young trees. In
these places the resources Of the For
estry Department were called upon.
The pike National Forest has splen-
did nursery Of several hundred acres
lin the foothills at Monument.
Col. where hundreds OF thousands OF
Young trees are being reared for plant
ing purposes. From the Monument
nursery the young trees were shipped
Il crates. with their roots carefully
protected. The roots for q year-old
or 2-year-old pine arb SO sensitive that
contact with the air for few seconds
win spoil them Wet moss Is used for
keeping the roots protected from the
air. and in this way the young trees
arrive for planting. Though they are
onIv q few inches high, their vitality
. something amazing. and there is
| less loss from planting BY this method
than any other.
Generally the crates Of young trees
were replanted, close to the scene OF
onerations, In some gully where they
| rent damp. AS they were wanted they
were repacked into wire baskets.
which were slung across the shoulders
e carriers. These carriers took the
trees TO the planters, who were busy
With their mattocks. Inc carriers
nassed up and down the line q plant
- A each hole was dug q tree was
cnickly trust III to avoid the contact OF
/ "a vith The roots, and q couple OF