THE WHITE PINES OF MONTANA AND IDAHO— 

 THEIR DISTRIBUTION, QUALITY AND USES. 



By F. I. Rockwell. 



Limber Pine — Piniis ftexilis James. 



. Range: Eastern slope of Rocky Mountains from Alberta and 

 Montana to western Texas, and westward on high divides and 

 mountain ranges through Utah, Nevada, New Mexico and Ari- 

 zona into southeastern California on the western slopes of Sierra 

 Nevada Mountains. Altitudinal range from 4,000 to 11,000 feet. 



Occurrence: "On dry, rocky, east slopes, summits, tops of 

 ridges and foothills, and sometimes on sides of moister canyons 

 and banks of mountain streams. Adapted to a great variety of 

 soils and not exacting as regards depth or moisture, but grows 

 best in moist, well-drained soils. Usually in dry, rocky, very 

 shallow soil, appearing to prefer dry, loose, gravelly loam, with 

 little or no humus. Reaches higher elevation on clay soils than 

 on sandy ones. 



Usually occurs singly or in small groves among other coni- 

 fers, where it is of largest size ; occasionally in pure, open stands, 

 commonly stunted, on exposed slopes and ridges. Apparently 

 less frequent in Pacific than in Rocky Mountain range. In Pa- 

 cific region associated mainly with Lodgepole Pine and Black 

 Hemlock at higher elevations, and sparingly with White Fir 

 and stunted Sugar Pine at lower altitudes." (Sudworth.) 



In the Rockies, at the lowest range of tree growth and from 

 4,000 to 6,000 feet elevation, it forms open scattered stands of 

 round topped, stunted trees of no commercial value, usually in 

 company with Rocky Mountain red cedar or Western yellow pine. 

 At timber line, from 8,500 to 10,000 feet, it assumes similar or 

 even more stunted form, associating with Lyall Larch or other 

 alpine species. At intermediate elevations, it occasionally pro- 

 duces merchantable timber in company with Douglas Fir, and 

 possibly also with Whitebark Pine, Lodgpole Pine, Engelmann 

 Spruce and Alpine Fir. This is a point which should be the sub- 

 ject of further investigation. 



