The Coconino sun., 1921-12-02
WHY FOREST EXPERIMENT
STATIONS ARE NECESSARY

to which these great barrens in their
natural condition could as a rule be
put.
Something over 20 years ago a few
thousand Jack-pine were pulled up in
the Minnesota forests and planted in
the sand hills. To the surprise of
everyone except the man who sug-
gested the plantation, the trees sur
vived and grew. 1t was at once as
sumed that afforestation here would
be an easy task. An area was set
aside as national forest. A nursery
was established and planting opera.
lions begun, from 1908 through 1908
the results of plantation after planta-
ton were so poor that foresters al
most despaired of success. The plan
of action was changed from trial and
loss to systematic experiment and in
vestigation. A trained scientist was
assigned to the task of finding out
how to make forest plantations in the
face of the difficult conditions pre-
sented. In two or three years the kew
or rather keys flor the problem was
complex), had been found. Nursery
methods were developed that would
produce more sturdy stock. The most
favorable time for field planting was
found to be brief period, varying
with the season, when the spring was
far enough advanced to minimize the
frost danger, yet not too late for ade-
quate moisture. The Unexpectedly
wide variations of natural conditions
between the sand ridges, south slopes.
north slopes, and bottom lands with
IN small distances was revealed, and
the knowledge applied in the selection
OF the species best adapted to each
site. For example, western yellow
pine was found to be best suited for
the pure ridge sands with their sew
ere exposure to hard, drying winter
winds, and Jack pine for south slopes,
where it was found that tree must
be able to start Immediately after
transplanting, while the soil moisture
is still sufficient.
Today the older plantations are al
ready f1ourishing young forests, the
soil is covered with leaf litter, natural
seedlings have started, the native
grasses have been shaded out, the bird
life has changed, and Christmas trees
are cut for local use. The practical
bility of retaining the entire region
with forest growth suitable for meet
ing local timber requirements has
been fully established.
Similar experiences were had with
plantations of western yellow pine in
Arizona and New Mexico. Thousands
upon thousands of planted trees per-
slstently refused to do anything but
die. On some especially favorable
sites fair results were obtained, but
in most of the Southwest, the pros
pect of restoring forest growth
through artificial planting seemed
more and more dubious. Accordingly,
the Forest Valley experiment station
was assigned the task of securing
better knowledge of the obstacles en-
countered and possible WAYS of sur
mounting them. 1t is now possible
to plant with reasonable success in
western yellow pine stands of the
Southwest, under conditions slightly
If any, less difficult than in the sand
hills. Under the direction of the Fort
Valley station such plantations now
thrive on the Santa Fe and ella for
ests in New Mexico and the Coconino
forest in Arizona.
Another experiment of tremendous
Importance to the entire southwest is |
now being conducted by forest ex-
pertinent station in southern Colorado
to determine definitely the effect Of
forests on stream flow. Twp similar
water sheds, one wholly denuded and
the other well timbered, have been
selected. Minute and accurate data
on such observations as the annual |
stream discharge, the rapidity of run
OFF after rains, etc., have been kept
since 1910 and when the investigation
is completed, it will furnish informa-
ton Of great value and significance for
the Rio Grande and Salt river var
leys, as well as for other portions of
the southwest where agricultural de-
velopment is dependent upon stream
How for irrigation.
The field for the forest experiment
stations is very large. This field has
hardly been scratched by the few sta
ions which the forest service has
'cCH dUic W e5LdDilSN. Inc need Tor
knowledge as to how and with what
species to plant the 81 100000 acres
IT cut-over lands upon which all for
st growth has been destroyed, alone
presents a tremendous problem. Then
here are many questions concerning
'est methods Of cutting forests and
II slash disposal, to say nothing of
! thousand other questions of forest
which can be answered
My through scientific research. I'm
'roved methods Of fire protection, as
veil as studies of growth and yields
( forests are other interesting prob
ems for the stations. {
What forest experiment stations
hould do, therefore, is to establish in
he shortest time and in the cheap
st, most effective, and most authora- {
i've way the entire technical and 9
cientific basis for the growing and
rejection of timber. Furthermore, the
tations may be made to serve as '