A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



929 



Handling the white fir in these stands is a difficult problem. Un- 

 doubtedly this cutting method will leave more white fir on the ground 

 than the silviculturist would advise. It is worth bearing in mind 

 that the operating methods here contemplated involve construction 

 of a minimum of railroad line, of which as much as possible will be 

 permanent. The tractor roads over which the first cut is skidded out 

 will be usable at any later time. It is suggested that under these 

 conditions, when an active market occasionally occurs the operator 

 can readily go back and at very low cost remove more of the white fir. 

 Where this measure does not sufficiently favor the pine, removal of the 



6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 3Z 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 49 50 52 54 56 50 60 SMALL MEDIUM LARGE 

 D.AMETER BREAST HIGH (INCHES) TIMBER GROUP TOTALS ' 



FIGURE 9. Distribution of cubic volume by diameter classes on average acre, virgin stand of Ponderosa 



pine in eastern Oregon. 



fir has to be accomplished by logging sizes below the profitable cutting 

 limit. 



PONDEROSA PINE FORESTS IN OREGON, EAST OF CASCADE MOUNTAINS 



The ponderosa pine type of eastern Oregon, extending northward 

 into Washington and southward into California, exists in a region 

 of lighter rainfall than the types just described. The stands are 

 therefore lighter and the growth much slower than in the stands 

 shown in figures 4 to 8. As in those forests, cutting has usually been 

 too heavy. Figure 9 and table 9 show the distribution of diameter 

 classes and volume in a typical stand. Management problems in 

 forests of this type are somewhat different from those in the Pacific 

 coast localities of adequate rainfall. The growth is slow, and some 

 observers believe it may prove necessary eventually to carry in public 

 ownership much of the forest area in this type on which combinations 

 of forest production with grazing or other land uses are not worked 

 out. The measure immediately needed is to discontinue the cutting 

 of small, unprofitable trees and through saving these for further 

 growth to prolong the cut and hence the utility of the dependent mills. 



