22 JOURXAI, OF FORESTRY 



DESCRIPTION OF AREAS STTDIKO 



The areas included in this study he in the river-bottom flats of the 

 Priest River Valley, in Idaho. They are typical of the river-bottom 

 type of forest common in this region and in the Kaniksu National For- 

 est. The mixture of the original stand consisted of western white pine 

 {Finns nionticola), grand fir (.Uyics graiidis), western hemlock (Tsitga 

 heterophylla) , western red cedar (Thuja plicata), western larch {Larix 

 occidcntalis), and Douglas fir (Psciidotsitga taxifolia) in the order of 

 their numerical occurrence. The density of the original stand before 

 logging was approximately 230 trees per acre, including all trees to a 

 lower diameter limit of 2 inches (breast high). The soil is a sandy 

 loam, with a thick covering of humus, needles, and logging debris. 

 Owing to the heavy rainfall and poor drainage, the site is very moist 

 during the greater part of the year. Previous to 191 5, no fires had 

 produced visible damage on this area during the life of the present 

 stand. A majority of the original stand had been cut during the period 

 between 1900 and 1902 for its merchantable timber, leaving the western 

 hemlock, grand fir, and a few of the smaller individuals of Douglas fir 

 and larch standing on the area. The average density of the stand re- 

 maining on the areas after logging, computed from the data, is approxi- 

 mately 50 trees per acre. This forms a very open stand of hemlock 

 and grand fir. 



In all 5 plats were laid out on the cut-over areas, comprising a total 

 of 9.5 acres, upon which 435 trees, 57 of hemlock and 375 of grand fir„ 

 were studied. 



FIELD METHODS 



The methods used in securing the data are as follows : Plots were 

 laid out and detailed forest descriptions of each plat were recorded. 

 The trees were then prepared for examination by first lightly blazing 

 the bark and inscribing a number on the smoothed surface by means of 

 lumbermen's crayons. The trees w^ere numbered successively from i 

 to 435 and all data were recorded under the given numbers. 



The increment borer of And Mattson, 14 inches in length, was suc- 

 cessfully used in securing borings at diameter breast height, from which 

 the approximate total age and the measurements of the width of annual 

 rings for the last tW'O decades were secured. A very good indication 

 of decay was also secured b}' this means, in conjunction with observa- 

 tions on the presence of sporophores and the soundings made on the 

 trunk. Out of 120 hemlocks felled and opened up for the detection of 



