28 THE LOG OF A TIMBER CEUISEE 



us who were new to the work. We could scarcely 

 have undertaken to cruise without it. 



And indeed, even experienced timber workers find 

 it necessary to get some such line on how the trees 

 run, in feet board measure, when they enter an un- 

 worked region. In the Black Eange the frequent 

 taking of sample plots was particularly necessary 

 on account of the constant variation in altitude and 

 the consequent change of species and quality and 

 amount of timber. 



In general the best stands of Western Yellow Pine, 

 which is the chief, or technically the " dominant " 

 species of the forests of the Southwest, are usually 

 found at between 7,000 and 8,500 feet altitude, 

 though scattering trees grow in the canyons as low 

 as 6,000 feet and on slopes with a southern exposure 

 as high as 10,000 feet above sea level. But at these 

 higher levels, generally between 8,500 and 9,500 feet, 

 the dominant type is a composite of Douglas Fir and 

 Western Yellow Pine. Along creeks and on north 

 slopes one is apt to discover that Douglas Fir and 

 White Fir have crowded out the pine entirely, and 

 compose practically the whole stand in such places. 

 At 9,000 feet Engelmann Spruce appears, and above 

 9,500 feet this species predominates, with perhaps 

 a smaller stand of Alpine or Cork Bark Fir present 

 as a secondary species. 



Since our work in the Black Eange took us during 

 the season through altitudes varying from 6,000 to 

 over 10,000 feet we encountered at one time or an- 



