sitka spruce: uses, growth, management. 31 



In Alaska, on the other hand, the danger of forest fires in the 

 spruce belt is not great even in old cuttings because of frequent and 

 heavy rains in the summer as well as throughout the rest of the year. 

 Slash burning, therefore, is unnecessary and, moreover, highly un- 

 desirable, because it destroys the layer of humus and duff with which 

 the rock is all too scantily covered in that thin-soiled country. For- 

 esters recommend that in Alaska the slash be lopped and allowed to 

 lie, and this is the required practice after logging on the national 

 forests of the Territory. 



If slash is to be burned in Sitka spruce stands, it is very important 

 that it should be done the first spring or fall following logging, so 

 that the crop of seedlings which springs up in the first growing sea- 

 son after cutting will not be killed by the fire. Slash burning should 

 also be done at a time when the weather conditions are such that 

 the fire can be held in control on the area which it is intended to burn. 

 Further, the slash fire should be hot enough to clean up all the 

 inflammable debris. 



PROVISIONS FOR REPRODUCTION. 



Studies of old cuttings indicate that Sitka spruce reproduction 

 ordinarily follows the removal of the virgin forest, unless the area 

 has been subjected to repeated fires. Reproduction is abundant 

 where the slash has not been burned at all, as well as where there 

 has been but one slash fire immediately after logging. Sitka spruce 

 seems to be represented in the reproduction in as abundant pro- 

 portions as it was in the original forest. It is apparent that this 

 abundant reproduction following logging comes from seed which 

 had accumulated in the ground before the virgin timber was cut, 

 had escaped injury from fire (if the slashing was burned), and had 

 germinated when the forest floor became exposed to the light and 

 warmth of the sun's rays. Because of this adequate store of seed 

 in the ground, special provisions for leaving spruce seed trees is not 

 essential, provided only that the area is effectively safeguarded from 

 fires after this seed germinates. As a precaution in case of an 

 accidental fire, and as an added assurance of natural reproduction, 

 it is well to leave occasional seed trees of such wind-firm associated 

 species as Douglas fir, choosing those which are good seed producers. 

 It is not ordinarily advisable to leave single seed trees of Sitka 

 spruce, for they are too likely to be wind thrown. To secure some 

 of this species in the next crop, reliance must be placed on the seed 

 stored in the forest floor and released by the cutting of the virgin 

 forest. 



If natural reproduction does not restock an area adequately, it 

 may occasionally be advisable in the interest of good management 



