The Raymer enterprise., 1919-01-02
EvERGREENS FOR
PLAINS or COLORADO
FARMERS CAN BUY TREES FROM
THE STATE FORESTRY DE-
PARTMENT AT COST

Evergreen trees greatly predom-
mate over the broadleaf species in
the forests of Colorado. Excepting
ON limited areas along our stream
banks, which are covered with cot
tonwoods and aspen patches. or burn
ed over spots on our mountain slopes
only evergreen trees are to be found
Low down in the foothills at eleva-
tions between 5000 and 1000 feet,
where the average annual precipita-
tion rarely exceeds fifteen inches and
may fall short OF this, the pinion
pine and cedars find hospitable en-
vironment in the warm soil OF south
erly exposures. A little higher. uh
at elevations between 5000 and
5000 feet in northern Colorado, and
between 1000 and 900. feet in south
ern Colorado. the yellow pine belt is
found; here the average minimum
annual precipitation is never less
than fifteen inches in northern Col
orado and twenty inches in the south
ern part OF the state.
Above the yellow pine belt comes
the Douglas fir zone merging into the
upper limits OF the yellow pine. The
lodgepole pine and the Englemann
spruce zones comprise the upper belts
OF timber extending to timberlipe, the
lodgepole on old burns or on the bet
ter drained. gravelly soil. and the
spruce on the colder. moisture-retain-
ing ground
The higher elevations receive more
precipitation. but also suffer more
rapid loss OF moisture by evaporation
since the lighter the air the quicker
the evaporation from the soil and the
Transportation Of moisture from foli /.
age. But the amount OF prec!pita-
ton and the altitude alone do not
regulate the species which are found
The length OF seasons between frosts.
the mean summer temperature of the
soil, the humidity. and other factors
all enter into this complex matter.
1t is striking fact that eversrcens
comprise the vast majority OF natise
Colorado trees.
Why Evergreens Predem,na.e
Why should this be true, The an
swer seems to be. Colorado has a dry
climate. too dry Tor broadleaf trees,
generally speaking The answer
leads only to another pertinent ques-
tion: why are evergreen trees more
drouth-resisting thaa broadleaf
trees?
The greater drouth resistance OF
evergreen trees Is dun to difference
in leaf structure. White the broad
leaf species expose relatively large
leaf surface to Transportation, the
eyergreens have small needle-like
leaves which expose nut little sur
face to Transportation. Another diS-
ference is In the structure OF the
leaves. While the broaiIeef species
have their leaves protected by thin
tissue OF cells designed to restrict
Transportation. the evergreen leaves
have similar tissue of the same
kind of cells but with sunken sta
mata or pores. The evergreen need
les show adaptation to dry climate.
more so than the does the average or
typical leaf of the broadleaf species.
II is common experience that a
branch broken from an evergreen
tree will keep green and fresh for
days, while branch from. a broad
leaf tree will wither in few hours.
1t has been determined that a large
broadleaf tree may transpire bar
rel Of water on hot day, while a
large evergreen disposes OF only
about one-sixth that amount
Growing Evergreens Experimentally
With these facts In mind, expert
ments have been conducted with the
growing Of evergreen species in the
sandhills and arid plains between the
one hundredth meridian and the
Rocky mountains. In 1890 a planta-
tion Of several acres Of jack pine was
established under the supervision OF
the United States Department OF Ag-
riculture on the Bruner Brothers
ranch In Holt county, Nebraska, on
the eastern edge OF the sandhill re-
gion OF that state. The result is n
success fine stand OF trees
Twelve years later. in 1909. the
Bureau OF Forestry, now known as
the United States Forest Service, be-
gan planting trees In the sandhills
In the west central part of Nebraska.
at Halsey. east of Alliance. Here
western yellow pine and jack pine
are the chief species used. During the
first few years wild Seeding stock OF
jack pine was brought in from MIN