White Fir in Klamath Basin. 353 



vived in the competition for light and moisture and now occupy 

 their natural space in the mature stand. 



Where moisture conditions are suitable for it, White fir comes 

 in as scattered individuals and as such competes with the other 

 species with which it may be associated. 



Soil, Moisture and Tolerance. For early growth White fir 

 is absolutely dependent on good surface moisture- Apparently 

 any well drained soil is satisfactory although, of course, the rate 

 of growth is largely influenced by the quahty of the soil. 



At all stages of its development White fir is extremely tolerant. 

 Up to an age of about 20 years seedlings in the open and those 

 in full shade show no very marked difference in the rate of 

 growth. The crowns of the shaded class are, therefore, well de- 

 veloped before the influence of the top shade becomes effective. 

 The foliage is very persistent, so that a seedling in complete shade 

 is able to maintain its vitality until it reaches an age of from 30 to 

 50 years. If it should be opened up to the light at any time while 

 the crown is still intact there is no doubt but that a seedling 

 would readily recover. There are no data available on this point, 

 however, since the trees which reach maturity are only those 

 which have been in the dominant class from the start. 



Reproduction. After it reaches the cone bearing age. White 

 fir produces a fairly abundant seed crop nearly every year. It 

 is claimed by some observers that it begins to bear seed at the 

 age of about 20 years. Certainly, however, this does not apply 

 to the region covered in this study. Of a number of thrifty, 

 open grown specimens examined, on a site where conditions for 

 seed production were much better than the ordinary, the young- 

 est bearing cones was ;^y years old. It is probable that in the 

 characteristic clump growth trees do not begin to bear cones until 

 the early stage of competition is past and they are definitely 

 established as the individuals which will make up the mature 

 group. Such trees are probably from 75 to 100 years of age. 

 Trees growing singly undoubtedly bear seed earlier. 



The seed is heavy but has a large wing and is scattered to 

 quite a distance by the wind. The percentage of fertility is 

 fairly good and germination takes place on almost any kind of 

 a seed bed. For the development of the seedling, however, good 

 surface moisture is essential. The half shade of chaparral on 



