FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE. 97 



axis (fig. 35). After the seeds are shed, usually late in September or October, 

 the routs begin falling from the trees, and by spring most of them are down. 



The s Is dig. 35, b) are pale brown, with large wings which enable the 



wind to carry them for long distances. Seed-leaves. 4. and about one-fourth inch 

 in length. Wood, very fine-grained, soft (considerably lighter than that of 

 western hemlock), and pale reddish brown, it is without the sihcry character 

 of eastern hemlock wood. It is practically never used for commercial purposes, 

 and locally only occasionally on the prospector's alpine camp fire. 



Lonokvity. — Believed to be a very long-lived tree, but much more study of 

 its age limits is required. Trees from 18 to 20 inches in diameter are from 180 

 to 200 years old. while trees of high, wind-swept ridges are from 00 to 80 

 years old when from 5 to 7 inches in diameter. 



Timberline tree. From the Pacific coast mountains of Alaska southward through the 

 high Sierras of California, and to northern Idaho and Montana. 



Alaska. — Sea slope of Coast Range northward to neighborhood of Lynn Canal ( in 

 about lat. 60°), and westward to head of Yukla Creek on north of divide between Turn- 

 again Arm and Knik Arm of Cook Inlet (lat. 61° 10', long. 150°). Commonly at eleva- 

 tions of 2,000 to 4,000 fi'"T, except when occasionally inhabiting cold sea-coast bogs from 

 Sitka northward, and when descending to sea level at west end of its range on shores of 

 Prince William Sound and Kenai Peninsula. Timberline in southeastern Alaska is 

 1,800 to 2,400 feet on exposed seaward slopes, but is considerably higher in protected 

 inland passes. About Lynn Canal dwarf trees reach 3,250 feet, or more; westward, its 

 upper limit ranges from elevations of 400 feet to 1,600 feet, and about Prince William 

 Sound, at from 300 feet, in gulches away from sea, to over 1,450 feet, on warm slopes 



facing the Sound. On Kenai Peninsula, generally up to elevations of 1,21 r 1,600 



feet, but follows Resurrection Bay across divide to Turnagain Arm, reaching 2,500 feet 

 on inland plateau. Occurs in following localities: Hot Springs (near Sitka), Baranof 

 Island, and Yes Bay, at sea level: Kuiu iBland; White Lass, at 2,888 feet, and from 

 inland to Shallow Lake. Long Lake, Chilkoot and valley of Chilkoot, Fort Wrangell. 



British Columbia. — Higher sea slopes of Pacific Coast Range and islands, generally 

 at from 2,500 to 5,000 feet; also abundant in interior of southern British Columbia on 

 west slopes of Selkirk Mountains. All summits of Queen Charlotte Islands above 2.000 

 feet, and up to 4,500 or 5,000 feet, especially those at head of'Cumshewa Inlet. Fraser 

 River Valley and inland on higher slopes above 2. Too feet to Silver Mountain (near 

 Yale). Vancouver Island, at 3,000 to 5,500 feet elevation, especially on following sum- 

 mits : Mount Benson (3,000 feet); Mount Mark (3,300 feet); Mount Arrowsmith (5,500 

 feet i : Mount Edinburgh (3.250 feet) ; locally noted at Vancouver. Victoria, and Fort 

 Townsend. 



Washington. — Both slopes of Cascade and Olympic mountains at elevations of 5, 



to 7,000 feet, and on one peak of Blue Mountains, but not on Okanogan Highlands. 

 Olympics, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet, and at following points: Hoh Divide; head of 

 Bogachiel River, near pass to Jordan's Lake; near Close Call Basin; sphagnum swamp 

 3 miles below Hot Springs; main head of South Fork of Skokomisli River. Northern 

 part of Washington National Forest (west side of Cascades), at from 4.000 to (timber- 

 line) 6,000 feet; east side of Cascades in moist valleys and passes at 3,100 to 6,400 feet — 

 sometimes to 7.000 feet, as on slopes above Lake Chelan, and down to 2,200 feet, as in 

 Stehekin River Valley and on east side of Stevens Pass (mouth of Great Northern Kail- 

 road tunnel). Southern part of Washington National Forest, at 2,600 to 7,200 feei : 

 most abundant at 4,000 to 6,000 feet in Skykomisb, Tolt, Snoqualmie. Cedar. Creen, 

 While, Yakima. Wenache, Kntiat river basins and of Lake Chelan. Also at following 



points: Cascade Pass, at 5,421 feel : headwaters of stehekin River, at about 7,000 feel : 

 pass between Montecristo and Index: trail to Columbia Peak: Skagil Pass; Bridge 

 Creek. Mount Rainier National Forest, at 3,500 to 7.50(1 feet with best growth at 4,500 

 to 6,200 feef. in river basins on both sides Cascades. Locally noted as follows: Mount 

 Bainier, at 4,000 to 6,000 feet; Mount Adams, at 0.000 feet; Cascade Hi vide (3 miles 

 north of Cowlitz Pass) at 4,800 feet : at point 2 miles west of divide at Cowlitz Lass, at 

 1,750 feet; head of Summit Creek: Cowlitz River, at 3.650 feet; Dewey Lake (head of- 

 American Liver) at 5.300 feet; main divide on bead of Cispufl Liver, at 5,200 feet. 



Oehgon. — Both slopes of cascades at elevations of 5,500 to 7,000 feet, and in Powder 

 River Mountains (northeastern Oregon). Cascade National Forest (North), principal 



