898 jOL'KXAL Ol' K()Ri;STK\' 



de;ad diamond river 



Hardzuood Type — Diameter Limit, 12 to 14 Inches on the Stump, 

 Cut i88p to ipii 



The effect of cutting to a dimeter limit of 12 to 14 inches in the 

 hardwood type has been gradually to turn the forest into an ultimate 

 hardwood stand. For example, the cuttings on the Main Dead Dia- 

 mon River, near Hell's Gate, in 1897 to 1899, have changed the com- 

 position of the hardwood type only in so far as it has reduced the per 

 cent of spruce and fir. The larger trees that were suitable for saw- 

 logs were taken out, leaving the suppressed spruce and the fir of 

 smaller diameter. 



Several different results were noted : 



The openings in crown cover were taken up by the crowns of the 

 surrounding hardwoods, or else came in to young hardwoods, or were 

 taken up with fir reproduction, which is making a fair growth when 

 it has a chance, but in many places will never make large trees, as the 

 light will be shut off by the surrounding hardwoods. 



Where just one tree was removed the change wrought consisted only 

 in the absence of the spruce. However, where 6 to 10 trees on a 

 quarter acre were removed, enough light was furnished to enable fir 

 to start, and some small clumps of second growth of this species will 

 be found in the future. Probably the best illustration of this last con- 

 dition was found in some cuttings about 40 years old. Here are found 

 clumps of second growth fir 6 to 10 inches in diameter, 30 to 60 years 

 old. Testing with an increment borer revealed the fact that the 60- 

 year-old trees were suppressed for 20 years, and had then not attained 

 a diameter of over an inch at breast height. When the older spruces 

 were removed these suppressed trees were able to grow more vigorouslw 

 and the annual rings put on compared favorably with those of the other 

 trees in the group that started from seed after the cutting was made. 

 In short, suppressed fir, 20 to 25 years of age and not over 6 to 7 

 feet high, revived and took on vigorous growth, besides fir seedlings 

 started after the old trees were removed. The resulting trees are prac- 

 tically of the same volume today. 



In the more recent cuttings, made 10 to 15 years ago, the same result 

 was noted, namely, lir filling in open spaces in the hardwoods where 

 proper conditions of light and seed bed were present. These latter spots 

 were not such good illustrations of final results, however, because the 

 fir has attained as yet only a height of 8 to 14 feet and d. b. h. of i to 

 ,^ inches. 



