THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 83 



are not very far less promising than those given for fir, for at 

 corresponding ages the latter include 12 and 13-inch trees and 

 all trees are considered merchantable to a top diameter of 8 

 inches. 



Spruce 



Since no systematic study of Sitka spruce second growth 

 has been made, it can only be predicted from knowledge of its 

 habits that while in favorable situation it will yield as heavily 

 as Douglas fir, in other localities its growth in early life is 

 slower and less regular, making it less likely to produce a 

 good crop before the carrying charges become burdensome. 

 If this proves true, taxation rates and land values will be 

 extremely important factors, offset to some degree by a smaller 

 fire hazard and the probability of high stumpage. 



Redwood 



For redwood we also lack good figures for any considerable 

 range of conditions and ages, for redwood growth which fol- 

 lowed burns does not exist and there are no very old cuttings. 

 Government studies on the northern California coast prove 

 conclusively, however, that this is our most rapid growing 

 native commercial tree. In thirty years, in fair soil, it will 

 produce a tree of 16 inches diameter, 80 feet high, and some 

 existing 45-year stands run 20 to 30 inches on the stump and 

 about 100 feet high. Reckoning 14-inch trees as merchant- 

 able, to be used to 10 inches in the tops, a 25 to 30-year 

 second growth after logging near Crescent City was found 

 to have 2~y 2 M feet to the acre and the future increase should 

 be very rapid. There is little question of the profit of grow- 

 ing redwood, provided the difficulties described elsewhere of 

 getting a dense crop started are overcome. 



