56 REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



sufficient atmospheric moisture, sugar pine is not exacting in its soil require- 

 ments. It is found mostly on well-drained slopes, especially north and east 

 ones. 



Sugar pine produces seed in moderate abundance about every five years, but 

 produces some seed every year. The seeds are large, have a rather low ger- 

 minating per cent, and are greedily eaten by birds and squirrels. 



Broadcasting is not feasible, since at least 80,000 seeds should be sown pel- 

 acre, and as there are but 2,400 seeds per pound and a pound costs 85 cents, the 

 cost per acre of sowing broadcast, including labor, would be in excess of $30. 

 Seed-spot sowing is more promising. The planting of nursery-grown stock 

 rather than direct seeding seems advisable in propagating the species. It 

 should be grown in mixture with other species rather than pure. In reforesta- 

 tion work on the National Forests in California and southern Oregon this 

 desirable tree should be extensively used. 



WESTERN LABCH (Larix occidentalis). 



Western larch is an important timber tree of the Northwest, from western 

 Montana to the eastern slope of the Cascade Mountains in Oregon and Wash- 

 ington. The seed is small and rather difficult to obtain, but on account of the 

 great number of seeds per pound, even though they are not particularly vigorous, 

 seeding is believed to be practicable. It should be sown on fairly good forest 

 soil where there is little or no shade. The tree does well in mixture with 

 Douglas fir. 



Western larch should be used to a moderate degree in reforestation work in 

 appropriate localities on the National Forests within its natural range. 



WESTERN WHITE PINE (Pinus monticola). 



This is a very valuable timber tree in certain portions of the Northwest. 

 It grows rapidly, produces heavy stands of valuable timber, and may be grown 

 on rough, steep mountain sides. Seed of this species is not easily obtained as a 

 general rule, so that it is necessary to do some planting. In nurseries the 

 seed comes up unevenly, and therefore requires treatment, such as stratifica- 

 tion every winter, or soaking before being sown. 



Western white pine should be used extensively in reforestation work on 

 the National Forests of northwestern Montana at altitudes of from 3,800 to 

 5,500 feet, throughout northern Idaho at similar altitudes, and in western 

 Washington below 4,500 feet. Every effort should be made to obtain large 

 quantities of seed. 



WESTERN RED CEDAR (Thuja plicata). 



This is an important commercial tree of the Northwest, contributing as it 

 does 60 per cent of all the shingles annually produced in the United States. 

 It is highly prized for posts, poles, and for cooperage, being very light and 

 durable. It is a tree of comparatively slow but persistent growth, is long lived, 

 and attains very large dimensions. The tree is much affected by a fungus caus- 

 ing heart rot. It requires abundant soil moisture and grows best in a humid 

 climate. It grows in dense stands, sometimes pure, but generally in mixture 

 with other species. Seed is produced abundantly nearly every year, and may be 

 collected at a cost of $2 per pound. The seed ripens in the summer, has a high 

 rate of germination, and usually germinates the same fall. The vitality of the 

 seed is greatly reduced by storing even for one year. Because of its slow 

 growth, western red cedar should be used only to a limited extent in reforesta- 

 tion work in the Northwest. It may be propagated by broadcasting the seed on 

 moist situations, otherwise seedlings should be grown in the nursery and 

 transplanted. 



