38 BULLETIN 327, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the abundant supply of cones the squirrels " cut down." During 

 light or poor seed years this consumption may in some localities well 

 include practically the entire crop, but in seasons of heavy seed pro- 

 duction, the loss from rodents must still allow abundant reproduc- 

 tion. 



' LONGEVITY. 



In general white fir grows rapidly in height and diameter for the 

 first 50 to 100 years, after which it grows slowly up to about 350 

 years, which is believed to be near its maximum age. The age limit 

 of white fir in the Rocky Mountain region is not fully known at 

 present, but very probably the largest trees are not over 250 Or 275 

 years old. 



SHASTA RED FIR. 



Abies magnifica shastensis Lemmon. 



COMMON NAME AND EARLY HISTORY. 



The Shasta red fir has only a very limited range in the Rocky 

 Mountain region (Map No. 10; western edge of Nevada), its princi- 

 pal range lying in the Pacific slope region. 



From the forester's point of view Abies magnifica and its variety, 

 A. magnifica shastensis, which is distinguished from the former by its 

 shorter and thicker cones and by the exserted bract of its cone scales 

 (PL XXV, a), are practically one tree. Indeed, without seeing the 

 mature cones of the species and its variety, it is impossible to dis.- 

 tinguish one tree from the other. Their silvical habits and habitat 

 are essentially the same. 



The common name, Shasta red fir, derived partly from the techni- 

 cal name, is probably not used by woodsmen and other laymen who 

 generally call the species and variety "red fir." The name Shasta 

 red fir refers appropriately to the deep red-brown bark which both 

 the species and its variety invariably have throughout their range, 

 and to the historical fact that the tree was originally found on Mount 

 Shasta, Cal. 



Abies magnifica was first discovered in 1845 by Col. Fremont 

 on his expedition to California, the first authentic description of it 

 appearing in 1863. The Shasta red fir was found first on Mount 

 Shasta, Cal., in 1852 by the intrepid Scotch explorer John Jeffrey. 

 The earliest technical name given to this form is probably "Abies 

 nobilis rubusta " of Carriere, published in 1867 ; but it is impossible 

 to be sure now that Carriere's accompanying description applies to 

 the Shasta fir, which in 1890 was properly distinguished for the 

 first time as " Abies magnifica var. shastensis " by Dr. J. G. Lemmon. 



