THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 43 



MANAGEMENT OF SPECIFIC TYPES 

 DOUGLAS FIR (Pseudotsuga taxifolia) 



Compared with most important commercial trees, the 

 Northwestern Douglas fir is remarkably easy to reproduce. It 

 is an abundant seeder., grows very rapidly, and inhabits a 

 region with every climatic advantage. In the typical fir dis- 

 tricts of Oregon and Washington deforested land which 

 escapes recurring fire is usually restocked naturally and with 

 astonishing rapidity. 



The exceptions to this rule are where the destruction of 

 seed trees has been wide and absolute, where already estab- 

 lished competing species are not removed with the original 

 forest, and where the surviving fir is too old to seed. The two 

 latter conditions are most prevalent near the coast, where the 

 wet climate not only tends to protect slashings from fire and 

 thus preserve the undergrowth of shade bearing species which 

 escapes logging, but has also prevented the accidental de- 

 struction in the past of the original fir stand by fire. 



In considering these natural results as they bear upon pro- 

 posed methods, we find actual destruction of seed supply the 

 easiest to avoid. If the original stand contains suitable seed 

 trees we can protect a sufficient number of them. If not, or 

 if it is less expensive, we can secure seed elsewhere. More 

 frequent difficulty will lie in determining whether the repro- 

 duction of fir should be the sole effort, or whether it should 

 not be sacrificed, if necessary, in order to utilize an existing 

 start toward a second crop of other species. This is of peculiar 

 and early importance, for it usually also decides the question 

 of protecting the slashing from fire. 



If the present stand is nearly pure fir, or if other species 

 are represented almost wholly by merchantable trees, there 

 will be no young growth worth saving. A new crop must be 

 started from seed, and since fir is the quickest and easiest to 

 grow, as well as probably the most valuable, it should be given 

 every encouragement. 



