124 ANNUAL REPORT OF 



The climate is rough, and is characterized by long winters with an abundant 

 snowfall, and by rapid changes of temperature; at the same time it is throughout 

 favorable for forest vegetation, especially for conifers. 



3. Species. 



The details will be found in the description of compartments. Generally speak- 

 ing, the spruce and silver fir are the prevailing trees, the former being more 

 abundant in the middle and upper parts, the latter at the lower elevations. The 

 beech is associated with them locally and in varying proportions. Scotch pine is 

 found in the granite region chiefly upon dry, steep, rocky slopes with a southerly 

 aspect, and in the sandstone region, especially on dry ridges and the top of the 

 mountains, as well as here and there in other localities. The three conifers attain 

 a maximum height of 140 feet, with regular shaped and little tapering stems. 

 Toward the upper limit of the area the height growth diminishes rapidly, dwindling 

 down to 20 or even 15 feet on the high plateaux. Here the mountain pine and the 

 birch are also found. Reproduction is generally good, except at the higher eleva- 

 tions. A marked difference is found between northern and southern slopes, the 

 growth and reproduction being far more vigorous on the former than on the latter. 

 The silver fir is much exposed to cancer. Windfalls and snow breakage are 

 fairly moderate, while the damage from insect attacks is very small. During the 

 years 1874-83, the following proportion existed between the different classes of 

 fellings: 



Cuttings caused by insect attacks = i per cent of total fellings. 

 " " snow breaks = 12 " " 



" " windfalls = 16 " 



Cancer and other diseases and injury =19 " " 



Other cuttings =52 " " " 



Total = 100 " " " 



4. Method of Treatment and Rotation. 



The situation and the species necessitate the area being treated under the high 

 forest system. The quality gradations, as indicated under 2, are so conspicuous 

 locally that it is possible (as well as desirable in order to secure a proper idea of 

 the condition of the forest), to group the growing stock according to its character- 

 istics as produced by the quality of the locality, and according to the method of 

 treatment thereby indicated. The actual basis of this grouping is the yield, and 

 based upon it, the net income or financial result of the management. In this sense 

 the forest may be divided into the following thi'ee groups: 



a. Areas Subjected to an Intensive Management. To this group belong all 

 areas which, in virtue of their quality (as indicated mainly by the height growth of 

 the trees on fully stocked areas) are capable of producing large timber; areas on 

 which carefully conducted regeneration fellings will produce natural regeneration 

 within a reasonable period of time, and where the cost of any artificial assistance 

 in regeneration is commensurate with the anticipated returns. As lowest limit of 

 this group a normal increment of 43 cubic feet per year and acre, calculated for a 

 rotation of 120 years, has been fixed. The area thus included in the group amounts 

 to 78 per cent of the whole. It is with this area, and the growing stock standing 

 on it, that th management must more especially reckon, and from which the 



