LODGEPOLE PINE 173 



able in size and color. Squirrels and birds consume large 

 quantities, but in spite of that drain upon the supply, natu- 

 ral reproduction takes place readily and can be largely re- 

 lied on if any reasonable care be taken to promote it. Mr. 

 George B. Sudworth, of the Forest Service, estimates that 

 a single tree will naturally reseed a quarter of an acre in a 

 year. It is evident that planting seeds, where natural refor- 

 estation may fail for any reason, will be entirely successful, 

 and that growing plants in a nursery and transplanting 

 them into the forest would not be advisable, owing, in part, 

 to the tap-root they have and to the great loss which must 

 inevitably ensue through lack of rainfall when the little re- 

 cently planted trees would most need it. Efforts have been 

 made to grow the tree in the eastern part of the United 

 States for ornamental purposes, but with such poor success 

 that the attempt to propagate it for forest purposes should 

 be undertaken on a very limited scale, until it is shown to 

 be more frequently successful as an ornamental tree. It 

 grows fairly well in Europe and is being quite extensively 

 planted there. The species jejfreyi seems to do better than 

 ponderosa in our eastern climate, and it is possible that 

 the other variety ponderosa scopulorum may do well 

 on high and exposed elevations. It certainly would be well 

 to experiment in that direction, for it might serve where 

 none of our eastern Pines will flourish. 



LODGEPOLE PINE : Pinus murrayana 



THIS tree is generally known by the common name here 

 given. There are several other local names, but none so 

 appropriate. The appellation " Lodgepole " arises from its 

 characteristic habit, when in dense stands, of growing tall, 

 smooth, and straight, but with a small stem, thus fitting it 

 for lodge- or tent-poles. None of our western Pines have a 

 wider natural range, nor are any of more diversified habits 

 of growth. This wide diversion of habitat and character 

 has led to much confusion, and to the claim that there are 



