982 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



The tree matures in about 50 years, although many older ones are 

 found. It ranges in height from 40 to 90 feet and from 8 to 30 inches 

 in diameter, depending entirely upon the conditions under which it has 

 developed. In close stands the trunk is usually straight and clears 

 itself of branches for three-fourths of its length. In open stands the 

 tree is apt to fork and be very branchy. 



The bark is thin and smooth, light ashy to whitish gray. This thin- 

 ness of bark renders it susceptible to fire injury. The leaves are from 

 2 to 6 inches long. 



The male and female catkins occur in pendulous clusters at or near 

 the ends of the branchlets. The male catkins are 3 to 6 inches in 

 length, cylindrical in form, and appear in the early spring. The female 

 catkins or, more properly, cones are less than an inch in length and 

 nearly round. These appear in the spring from three to four weeks 

 later than the male catkins. The cones remain green until the seeds 

 are fully ripe, but finally turn brown. The seeds are liberated during 

 the fall and winter. The old cones remain on the trees for several 

 months following the dispersal of the seed. The seeds have thin nar- 

 row wings and are about the size of a radish seed. They scatter widely 

 and germinate freely. This latter is shown by the rapid spread of the 

 species and by the short time within which cleared land in its vicinity 

 will revert to alder growth when not continually utilized. 



THE ALDER AS A TYPE 



As a forest type the red, or Oregon, alder fills an important position 

 on the Siuslaw Forest. Some time in the forties the entire region was 

 devastated by a fire which destroyed almost the entire existing stands 

 of Douglas fir. Previous to the fire undoubtedly the alder, forming 

 only an incidental species, was confined to narrow strips along the 

 streams and river bottoms. During the years since the original fire 

 many of the areas have been repeatedly burned over. In spite of this 

 handicap, the alder has continuously spread until now it forms an im- 

 portant temporary cover type embracing hundreds of acres which 

 otherwise would be given over to brush. This rapid spread has not 

 been confined alone to the broad bottoms, but is spreading up the 

 higher slopes and in some cases reaching the tops of the higher ridges. 

 The value of this species has not been given proper recognition, and it 

 is proposed in this report to show the purpose it has served and will 

 continue to serve until crowded out by the original and more valuable 

 Douglas-fir type. 



