Zane Grey (January 31, 1872 - October 23, 1939) was an American author best known for his popular adventure novels and stories that presented an idealized image of the American frontier, including the novel Riders of the Purple Sage, his bes selling book. This is one of his stories.

Advance regeneration is common under decadent, old-growth stands of California red fir (Abies magnifica A. Murr.). Intense competition for the site's resources can create sapling stands of poor vigor and advanced age. When competition is reduced by overstory removal and thinning, suppressed advance regeneration has been shown to respond with increased growth. But, to select leave trees, land managers need to know which tree characteristics we associated with growth after release and thinning. This paper reports those easily measured tree characteristics found to be most closely associated with growth after 8 years, on the Swain Mountain Experimental Forest in northeastern California.

Featuring the newest VFR -- as well as IFR -- regulations and procedures, this new edition includes the most current information needed to become proficient in the area of radio communications.

Texas and California are the leaders of Red and Blue America. As the nation has polarized, its most populous and economically powerful states have taken charge of the opposing camps. These states now advance sharply contrasting political and policy agendas and view themselves as competitors for control of the nation's future. Kenneth P. Miller provides a detailed account of the rivalry's emergence, present state, and possible future. First, he explores why, despite their many similarities, the two states have become so deeply divided. As he shows, they experienced critical differences in their origins and in their later demographic, economic, cultural, and political development. Second, he describes how Texas and California have constructed opposing, comprehensive policy models--one conservative, the other progressive. Miller highlights the states' contrasting policies in five areas--tax, labor, energy and environment, poverty, and social issues--and also shows how Texas and California have led the red and blue state blocs in seeking to influence federal policy in these areas. The book concludes by assessing two models' strengths, vulnerabilities, and future prospects. The rivalry between the two states will likely continue for the foreseeable future, because California will surely stay blue and Texas will likely remain red. The challenge for the two states, and for the nation as a whole, is to view the competition in a positive light and turn it to productive ends. Exploring one of the primary rifts in American politics, Texas vs. California sheds light on virtually every aspect of the country's political system.

Using a Vegetation Drought Index (VDI) for estimating the susceptibility of California red and white firs to the fir engraver beetle (Scolytus ventralis) was evaluated in northern California forests where these true firs (Abies species) occur in mixed conifer and true fir stands. Midway through the summer drought, true fir moisture stress-a known predisposing factor-was highest on sites with highest VDI values (most xeric). In mixed conifer stands, the susceptibility of white firs-as indicated by the mean percentage of their basal area killed annually-was highest on sites with highest VDI values. But in true fir stands, the susceptibility of mixed red and white firs was highest on sites with the lowest VDI values. Regression models with VDI, stand basal area, and percentage of true fir as regressors lacked the required predictive range and precision, suggesting that VDI will likely have to be used in combination with predictors other than, or in addition to, those analyzed.