MARKING WESTERN YELLOW PINE. 

 By Theodore S. Woolsey, Jr. 



When the Forest Service first took over the administration of the 

 National Forests, little detailed attention could be given the mark- 

 ing of timber by executive officers ; it was left almost entirely to 

 green, untried technical assistants, and more frequently to the 

 rangers themselves. Too heavy cutting resulted, and the need for 

 detailed instructions and marking rules was keenly felt. Now 

 there are general instructions for marking for every forest in the 

 United States, divided according to the silvicultural regions. 

 Western Yellow Pine naturally falls in the Western Yellow Pine 

 region, southern division. 



But now that these instructions have been drawn up. it seems 

 that the next progressive step will be personal marking by execu- 

 tive officers ; plans are being formulated for sample marking on 

 each National Forest in the Third District. Of course, this can- 

 not be done all at once and must come about gradually. Before 

 any large sale commences, however, it is planned to have repre- 

 sentative areas marked by the Chief of Silviculture and the Dis- 

 trict Forester in connection with the local officers. In other words 

 a marking board has been formed, in order that the results may 

 bear the consensus of approval of the officials in the district most 

 directly concerned. In the past, local rangers have complained 

 that one visiting officer advises one method, while another sug- 

 gests something else ; naturally this has resulted in considerable 

 confusion. By having the marking commenced by a board of of- 

 ficers it is thought that this subsequent confusion and criticism 

 can be done away with to a large extent ; gradually, instead of 

 referring to paper instructions, reference can be made to repre- 

 sentative areas on each forest. For example : a supervisor will 

 be instructed to mark the John Doe timber sale in accordance with 

 the methods employed on Sections 3, 4 and 5, T 22 N, R 6 E. 

 Coconino National Forest. Of course, this may properly be sup- 

 plemented by a brief and specific reference to the existing marking 

 rules, but in the main, the technical assistant and supervisor would 

 follow the actual marking: that has alreadv been done which has 



