NOTES AND COMMENTS 355 



States that it would unquestionably be the viewpoint of those who con- 

 trol the destinies of the Service. If the opinion gained credence that 

 the Forest Service could not be criticised (without danger of having 

 this criticism misunderstood), it would be most unfortunate. No 

 organization can be perfect, and so far as my own experience goes the 

 Forest Service has been unusually broad in its attitude toward crit- 

 icism, with possibly one or two notable exceptions. Let us be certain, 

 however, that criticism, if directed at an organization (which has done 

 and is doing so much good in the United States in exemplifying what 

 an efficient departmental administration should be) or against its poli- 

 ices, shall be constructive and not merely destructive. It is in some 

 respects unfortunate that members of the Forest Service themselves 

 cannot express (as frankly as they wish) their own personal views of 

 important policies. If they do so, even within the sacred walls of the 

 organization, too frequently, their loyalty is questioned. Surely a man 

 can be loyal to any organization and yet have the right to express him- 

 self, even if he cannot agree with the policies that for the day have the 

 approval of those in administrative charge. 



T. S. W., Jr. 



YelIvOw Pine Cuttings in the Blue Mountains 



The proper silvicultural method of cutting in yellow pine is one of 

 the most important forest problems. A report recently completed by 

 Mr. Weitknecht, resulting from his two seasons' field study of old 

 yellow pine cuttings in the Blue Mountains, makes available a large 

 amount of interesting facts and conclusions bearing on this problem. 

 When the study was begun such practical questions as the following 

 presented themselves: 



1. How great is the windfall danger in cut-over stands? With 

 such violent storm winds as occur in eastern Oregon, is there danger 

 of all the trees in the reserved stand eventually being blown down, as 

 was feared from the recent alarming windthrow in timber sale cuttings 

 on the Whitman National Forest? 



2. Does the dense reproduction which exists after cutting, as re- 

 flected by old cut-over areas, start before cutting or subsequent to it? 

 What is the relative abundance and rate of growth (and thus the im- 

 portance) of advance as compared with subsequent reproduction? 



3. Does the accelerated growth which occurs in the trees left 

 standing after selection cutting so materially increase the volume as to 



