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NEW YOkK 

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FORESTRY QUARTERLY """^^ 



Vol. IX.] September, 1911. [No. 3. 



THE NEED OF A VIGOROUS POLICY OF ENCOURAG- 

 ING CUTTING ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS OF 

 THE PACIFIC COAST. 



By Burt P. Kirkland, Forest Superznsor. 



Much has been written concerning cutting poHcy, regulation of 

 annual cut, etc., on the National Forests. While most of the 

 writers assume to speak for the National Forests as a whole, as 

 a matter of fact the methods of reconnaissance, cutting regula- 

 tion, etc., advocated are as a rule not at all adapted to the 

 National Forests west of the summit of the Cascades, in Wash- 

 ington and Oregon. These forests are, however, destined to 

 furnish a far greater portion of the cut from the National Forests 

 than their area indicates. There is little doubt that of several 

 National Forests in this region, each will furnish a greater sus- 

 tained annual yield than the entire National Forest area in some 

 of the six districts among which the National Forests are dis- 

 tributed. It seems evident, therefore, both that discussion of 

 the needs of this particular region by persons familiar with the 

 true conditions is needed, and that the too frequent practice of 

 persons familiar with only a limited part of the National Forest 

 area speaking for the whole is one to be discouraged as not con- 

 ducive to a proper public understanding of National Forest con- 

 ditions. Before entering into the subject matter proper of this 

 article, a brief discussion of some of the special conditions pre- 

 sent in the region will aid in understanding the conclusions aimed 

 at. 



Conditions Which Necessitate Distinct Methods oe 

 Cutting and Regeneration in This Region. 



<y> In most of the National Forest regions what is practically a 



T-H selection system is now in vogue. As the species involved are 



