32 BULLETIN 604, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PROBLEM OF MANAGEMENT. 



In view of the fact that for many years to come the Forest Service, 

 as well as timber owners in the West generally, will be concerned 

 primarily with the management of virgin forests, it is evident that 

 the immediate problem is the utilization of the present crop of mature 

 and overmature timber and the protection of second-growth stands 

 against loss through fire and disease. 



As has already been brought out, most of the merchantable incense 

 cedar to-day consists of mature timber practically at a standstill as 

 regards growth and more or less aifected with dry-rot. The logical 

 procedure, therefore, is to cut out as fast as practicable all mature 

 and infected trees, disposing of them at a nominal price if necessary, 

 in order to insure the health and soimdness of the remaining stand. 

 Such a policy is now practiced by the Forest Service in sales of Gov- 

 ernment timber and should be the policy of all private operators who 

 are interested in the future of their holdings. By adequate fire pro- 

 tection and the elimination of all diseased timber as the forested areas 

 are cut over, future stands and the young and thrifty growing stock 

 already established can be prevented to a large extent from falling 

 into the unfortunate condition now prevailing in virgin stands. For- 

 tunately, under normal conditions, natural reproduction of incense 

 cedar is excellent, so that protection from fire and a reasonable 

 amount of care in cutting are all that is necessary to insure a per- 

 petuation of the stand. 



Next in importance, from the standpoint of management, is the 

 encouragement of rapid growth and improved form in future stands 

 of this species. Here the opportunity of the forester to overcome 

 the obstacles presented is limited only by the maximum possibilities 

 of the tree and the economic conditions which must be met in order 

 to insure a reasonable return on the investment. 



ROTATION. 



Preliminary studies by Dr. E. P. Meinecke have shown that on 

 the most favorable sites few trees below the age of 150 years are 

 affected with dry-rot. It is probable, therefore, that with proper 

 sanitation and adequate protection from fire little loss need be feared 

 before this age is reached. This is sufficient time under ordinary 

 conditions for cedar to grow to a diameter of about 2 feet. Under 

 proper silvicultural treatment this size can be increased materially 

 without exceeding the rotation thus established. 



While under natural conditions incense cedar does not reach ma- 

 turity until about the three hundred and forty-fifth year, it reaches 

 merchantability, or a diameter of 28 inches, in about 200 years, and 

 under favorable conditions for growth, such as might be expected 

 to prevail in managed stands, in 150 years. This estimate is con- 



