104 FORFST REGULATION 



6. Western Yellow Pine Districts. These Western Pineries 

 occupy the dry, warm, lower slopes of the Rockies, the east side of 

 Sierras and Cascades and the dryer slopes of the west side of the 

 ranges from Middle Oregon South. Topography and soil vary 

 within wide limits ; the soil, being dry, is generally fertile and it is 

 the warmth and dryness of climate (and soil) which give these 

 sites to Pine. Hard-baking "adobe"' soils in Arizona ; coarse granite 

 sands and gravels on the east side and limestone soils on the west 

 side of the Black Hills and pumice sands in parts of the Cascades 

 indicate variety in this direction. Forest varies from open, park- 

 like stands of pure pine woods to rather dense and brushy mixed 

 stands of Yellow Pine and Red Fir, with Balsam and Larch in 

 Idaho, or Yellow Pine, Sugar Pine, Balsam and Cedar in California. 

 Tendency, as in all hard pines, to even age stands. Reproduction 

 varies chiefly with moisture conditions and is precarious in most 

 parts of Arizona and New Mexico, easy on the granite in the Black 

 Hills, much more difficult on the limestone, etc. An 18" tree 

 requires over 150 years in the drier parts of district (Arizona), only 

 about 100 years in the moister portions (parts of Oregon and 

 California). Topography varies from perfectly level and easy 

 rolling plateau country in Arizona, South Dakota to steepest moun- 

 tain lands. Market just developing, transportation to long distance 

 markets (Chicago, Kansas City, etc.) costly. Logging very variable, 

 easy on plateau, difficult in mountains where it calls for chutes or 

 slides, etc. ; high cost of labor enters heavily. Protection against 

 fire a serious problem, summers generally dry ; specially dry seasons 

 recur at intervals 10-20 years: great fires 1902, 1910, et. Barkbeetle 

 a serious menace to the "all old'' stands. 



So far several methods have been tried. The lumberman has 

 generally cut clear, taking all he could use. The Government has 

 tried Clear Cutting with seed trees or seeding from side ; and various 

 modifications of this method in the direction of ordinary Selection 

 method. Generally this latter method is best : 



a. To avoid exposure of large areas to sun and wind and 

 thereby rendering difficult, if not impossible, the natural reproduc- 

 tion desired. 



b. To avoid large contiguous bodies of young growth until 

 some later period when fire protection is ample. 



