222 Forestry Quarterly. 



being seasoned, however, it becomes extremely light. At a saw- 

 mill which formerly operated on Dupuyer Creek on the Lewis & 

 Clark National Forest, it was found that Limber Pine could be 

 manufactured into a good grade of lumber and shingles. The 

 stem of the tree was generally free from defects and knots, and 

 could be used for the better grades of finishing lumber. This 

 Limber Pine had grown mixed with a heavy stand of Douglas 

 Fir in a sheltered canyon, and the trees had grown tall and 

 straight. It is seldom, of course, that the quality of the wood 

 can be found as good as that on Dupuyer Creek. In its most 

 common habitat its scrubby growth makes it useful only for 

 fence posts and for fuel. Only occasionally is it fit for saw- 

 timber, and then a good proportion of the lumber produced would 

 be apt to be very knotty. 



A very unique method of securing a preservative treatment of 

 Limber and White-bark Pine timber for fence posts as practiced 

 by ranchers in the vicinity of the Madison Forest is related by 

 Supervisor Bunker. A sapling growth the size of the posts de- 

 sired is selected, and in the spring as soon as the sap runs freely 

 so that the bark will slip easily, the rancher peels the bark from 

 the standing trees for the length to be used, and then leaves the 

 tree to Nature. The tree immediately oozes out a sujfficient quan- 

 tity of pitch to cover the wound and dies. Six or eight months 

 later the rancher cuts the tree, now thoroughly seasoned, smears 

 the cut ends with tar, and has a post impervious to water, insects 

 or fungus. Posts so treated are said to last indefinitely. Mr. 

 Bunker personally examined one lot which the rancher said had 

 been set for 20 years, and the posts seemed as sound as ever. 

 The Limber and White-bark pines are apparently the only species 

 which are treated in this way, the ranchers going tO' considerable 

 trouble and expense to secure these particular kinds. Presumably 

 the original reason for this was because the bark of the young 

 white pines peels so easily, although possibly in the case of these 

 species the outside layers of wood become more thoroughly im- 

 pregnated with pitch than other species would. It is quite prob- 

 able, however, that the treatment would succeed with Lodgepole 

 Pine and other species as well. Probably this method of treat- 

 ment might prove quite economical and practicable to bring into 

 common use where it is desired to thin young stands and utilize 

 the thinnings for posts. 



