DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MARKING OF WESTERN WHITE 

 PINE (PINUS MONTICOLA) IN NORTHERN IDAHO ^ 



INTRODUCTION 



The work of preparing new marking rules for the white-pine type 

 on the Cceur d'Alene Forest was begun in the summer of 191 5 and 

 completed the following year. The work was done under the direction 

 of the Office of Silviculture, in District i of the Forest Service. This 

 article attempts to give the results of these efforts. 



In order that the reasons for the present system may be clear, a brief 

 outline of the development of marking in the white-pine type, as prac- 

 ticed by the Forest Service in northern Idaho since 1912, is necessary 

 before the most recent marking methods, the basis for them, and the 

 marking rules in detail are given. 



Certain economic conditions peculiar to the region have affected the 

 development. The steep, broken topography has been responsible for 

 difficult transportation, high logging costs, and large investment 

 charges. To meet these conditions successfully, now that the most ac- 

 cessible timber has been logged, requires comparatively large unit oper- 

 ations and a large volume of product per acre. As a practical require- 

 ment this factor, while it is not of paramount importance with some of 

 the silvicultural factors, should be considered in connection with the 

 establishment of any marking system. 



Western white pine, owing to the intrinsic qualities of its wood, is 

 and will continue to be the most valuable species in various mixtures 

 with from one to seven associate species. In fact, white-pine stumpage 

 is worth several times as much as that of any one of its associates in 

 the region at the present time. The purchasers of stumpage demand 

 logging chances containing a high percentage of white pine; because of 

 congressional pressure, the Forest Service has been equally anxious to 

 cut a large proportion of this species in order to increase its receipts. 

 Silvicultural requirements, fortunately, can be met without serious in- 

 terference with these desires. 



The silvical characteristics of white pine and its associates which 

 affect the marking problems are brought out in the statement of scien- 

 tific facts which is the foundation for the present rules and therefore 

 will not be discussed here. 



^This article prepared by C. K. McHarg, J. Kittreclge, and J. F. Preston. 

 D. R. Brewster, M. H. Wolff, F. A. Silcox, and others have helped to prepare 

 the new rules. 



871 



