MARKING Ol' WESTERN WHITE PINE 883 



Wind firmness 



White pine is reasonably windtirm, and no special precautions need be taken 

 to prevent windfall. 



Relation of Sice and Age 



There is no definite relation between size and age of white-pine trees in 

 crowded stands. 



Associate Species 



1. Western Larch. — Larch is the most fire-resistant species in the type, and it 

 is, therefore, a suitable tree to reserve for seed insurance against fire. It is 

 windfirni'when thrifty and full-crowned, but small, slender trees of sapling size 

 are subject to windthrow and windbreak. Though the tree is subject to fungus 

 diseases and serious injury is caused by mistletoe, it is fairly sound and long- 

 lived. 



Large trees of the veteran type are not infrequently unmerchantable because 

 of windshake. Very old and exceptionally swell-butted trees may usually be 

 expected to be shaky throughout, though this is not an infallible indication. 



2. Douglas Fir. — Douglas fir is reasonably fire-resistant. It requires less 

 moisture than larch, and it is therefore very desirable on the dry sites in mix- 

 ture with white pine. On the more severe sites it is usually free from defect, 

 but on the best white-pine sites medium-sized trees, even though free from 

 defect, cannot be expected to live through a second rotation and reach maturity 

 in a sound condition. 



3. Hemlock and White Fir. — Hemlock and white fir are commonly defective. 

 They are prolific seed-producers, and restocking frequently occurs at the ex- 

 pense of other more desirable species. Because of their tolerance, advance 

 growth may be established in small openings and under shade. Whether the 

 trees are favored or not, restocking will usually take place. 



4. Western Red Cedar. — Cedar is a very desirable tree silviculturally as an 

 associate of white pine. It is very tolerant, and if the tree is present in the 

 original stand and properly favored an understory may be expected. It is easily 

 damaged by fire. Large-sized veteran trees are commonly defective ; but they 

 will live for an indefinite period in an apparently healthy condition when nothing 

 but a shell remains of the trunk. Such trees, although unmerchantable, may 

 have a definite value for seed production. 



5. Engelmann Spruce. — Spruce is only present on the cooler sites of the white- 

 pine type, but because of its desirability it should be encouraged to extend its 

 range. It is relatively tolerant, and will live under partial shade. It is easily 

 killed by fire, and is peculiarly subject to windthrow because of its shallow root 

 system. While it is susceptible to fungus infection, it frequently remains sound 

 indefinitely and is longer-lived than most of its associates. 



6. Lodgepole Pine. — Lodgepole pine rarely occurs on white-pine sale areas, 

 though it is found in mixture at the upper limits of the type. It establishes dense 

 stands of reproduction, especially after fire, and is therefore undesirable during 

 the period of restocking. It is comparatively short-lived, and in white-pine 

 stands it usually dies out because of its intolerance. 



7. Western Yellow Pine. — Yellow pine occurs occasionally in white-pine stands. 

 It is very fire-resistant, long-lived, and suitable for seed insurance. 



