178 Forestry Quarterly 



area treated under this system, windfall was destructive. The 

 wind soon demonstrated the impracticability of both the single 

 seed tree and the seed group systems for general use in Lodgepole, 

 and at the same time those who saw the results became thoroughly 

 convinced of the lack of windfirmness of the species. The test is 

 not a fair one, however, for it is asking too much of any species 

 to reduce the number of trees per acre from 500 or 1,000 to about 

 50 and expect them to stand in an exposed situation, particularly 

 when the individual trees are tall and slim. The next change in 

 the marking system naturally aimed to adopt some plan which 

 would eliminate the disastrous windfall. In the spring of 1909 

 the strip system was chosen. Under its operation about one-third 

 of the area was left in seed strips from 100 to 150 feet wide. 

 These strips were left absolutely intact between clean cut areas 

 of from one to three times the width of the seed strips. The 

 system proved successful in reducing windfall to a practically 

 negligible amount. 



The seed tree, seed group and strip systems largely disregarded 

 watershed protection and both silvicultural and market require- 

 ments. The first two practically resulted in the destruction of 

 the trees left through windfall and sun scald ; the third left many 

 over-mature trees ; all three failed to secure the thinning of over- 

 dense young stands, and caused an over-production of small size 

 material. None of these systems took into account the variety of 

 situations and the various ages and conditions of stands found on 

 the sale area. The system next to be adopted aimed to eliminate 

 previous difficulties, so far as practicable, by recognizing the 

 limitations and taking advantage of the possibilities of both the 

 species and the market, and harmonizing all factors in such a 

 manner, under the conditions imposed, as to secure the best in 

 the way of watershed protection and the maximum increase of 

 increment for the National Forest considered as a whole, although 

 not necessarily for each particular acre cut over taken by itself. 



Reviewing hastily the chief characteristics of the species and 

 the market, it has been shown that Lodgepole stands and repro- 

 duction tend to overdensity, satisfactory reproduction is secured 

 without fire on clean-cut areas and under a stand when sufficient 

 light is admitted, the individual is extremely persistent, both seed- 

 lings and good size trees are frequently able to recover from severe 



