Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-15
BURNS 40 YEARS
OLD REFORESTED
BY NEW METHODS
Seedlings Held Back in
Spring for 6 Weeks by
Refrigeration Before Be-
ing Planted.

Ravages of old forest fires can
be repaired in the high mountain
peaks of New Mexico. according to
the statement of Forest Eexaminer
Herman Krauch, one of the forest
research men of the local district
forest office.
Mr.. Krauch has just returned
from a ten day trip in the high
peaks of the south end of the
Sangre de Cristo range northeast
of Santa Fe, where he made a
careful study of tree planting made
there by himself during the past
three years. He was accompanied
on the trip and assisted in the
work by NJ. Westveld. also a re-
search specialist of the forest
service.
A study of these paintings Of
small trees raised in the Gallinas
nursery reveals the fact that a
large per cent of the thousands
planted are thriving and establish
ing themselves permanently Many
technical nursery and planting
problems had to be solved before
this feat was accomplished, ac-
cording to Mr.. Krauch. I'VE work
ed without precedent to guide us
under conditions probably unique
in forest planting" he said.
AS explained by Mr.. Krauch, the
prime factor in the problem was
the overcoming of the different
behavior of plant growth at an ele-
walton of 1000 at the Gallinas
.z,,,so,., xubara tho vounp trees
were raised. and the 10000 to 49,
900 foot elevation, or nearly a
mile higher. where they were
planted. Tree growth in the spring
at Gallinas starts at a date from
four to six weeks earlier than 1t is
possible to plant at the high ele-
vations, and once started growing
the effect of transplanting is usu-
ally fatal to the tiny seedlings.
Refrigeration Method.
Krauch says refrigeration is the
problem by utilizing natures own
efrigerators--the huge snow drifts
Of the peaks. Digging the young
trees while still dormant. he pack
ed them each spring on burros as
far into the high peaks region as
he could get, then slowed them
snugly in the bottom of the. snow
piles along the trail. Here they
slept safely without freezing or
growing until some six weeks later
when conditions were such that
planting In the big aspen burns
was possible.
Husky, four-year-ol stock
Engleman spruce and Douglas fir
and this refrigeration scheme,
together with minor technical meth
DDS seems to be the thing. for we
found many of the tiny trees plant
ed in 1918 vigorously growing,
some between two and three feet
high" said Krauch.
Approximately 100 acres Of the
big burns have been experimental
ly planted with 100 small trees. On
this trip Mr.. Krauch and Mr..
Westveld made careful examina-
ton of about 10000 of the indi-
vidual trees, all of which have
been described and marked with
stakes and metal tags at the time
of planting.
Old Burns Replanted.
The burns in which this planting
is done cover over 10000 acres of
the high mountain country around
Lake Peak on the headwaters of
the Rio En- Medic. The fires that
destroyed the original forests of
spruce and fir took place about
1881 when, according to the ma
tives and early settlers. the fires
burned unchecked for an entire
summer. Today only aspen covers
the slopes, a species which, while
valuable to prevent erosion and
hold back water. is commercially
useless and what foresters term "a
temporary type" The eventual re-
placement Of this temporary type
with the fir and spruce forests
there for centuries, is an objective
to work toward, according to Mr..
Krauch.
While camped in the mountains
Krauch and Westveld had the
unique experience of being in a
heavy snow and sleet storm for an
hour on the afternoon of July 8.
About four inches of the cold, wet
4