Fifth national, conservation congress 75 



period at a low rate, if direct financial returns are sure, and in addition the 

 indirect value of the forest will make it a highly profitable form of investment 

 to them. 



In planting watersheds the sites adapted for planting, in order of their 

 desirability, are: 



(1) Recent Burns (non- restocking). 



(2) Old non-restocking burns. 



(3) Scrubby Aspen. 



(4) Brush areas, oak, maple, cherry, etc. 



(5) Sage brush. 



(6) Open grassland. 



Owing to its mountainous character and the variation in climatic conditions, 

 it is advisable to consider the broad forest types of the region rather than 

 geographic sub-divisions. The principal forest types in the Rocky Mountain 

 region may be classified as (1) Alpine, (2) sub- Alpine, (3) Lodgepole pine, 

 (4) Red fir, and (5) Yellow pine. The Alpine type comprises the timber line 

 forest at the upper extremity of tree growth. The forests of this type have 

 little or no value except for protection purposes. The sub- Alpine type is the 

 uppermost zone of merchantable timber growth. The chief tree is Engelmann 

 spruce. Growth is so very slow in this type that the returns from forest manage- 

 ment are necessarily extremely low. Therefore, like the Alpine type the chief 

 value is for protective purposes, and cannot be considered from the strictly 

 commercial standpoint, since it is the duty of the government to manage such 

 forests for the general welfare, even at a loss. 



The Lodgepole pine type occupies chiefly the middle altitudinal zone. Lodge- 

 pole pine grows with fair rapidity and scientific management in this type will 

 probably yield a small profit in localities close to good markets. The strip 

 system appears to meet the silvical requirements in this type, although the ease 

 with which natural regeneration is secured makes it practical to use the clear 

 cutting system in many localities. Since 180 years may be regarded as an 

 average rotation for the Lodgepole pine, even natural regeneration under the 

 best conditions, offers little inducement to the average investor. 



The Red fir type occupies the lower zone of timber growth in the Rockies, 

 in association with the Yellow pine type, although extending to a somewhat 

 higher altitude. Red fir is a tolerant tree and makes excellent growth on north- 

 ern exposures, even near the lower limit of tree growth where the precipitation 

 is very light. The wood is durable and has a wide range of uses for posts, 

 mine timbers, ties, lumber, etc. Red fir grows more rapidly than Lodgepole pine 

 and responds more quickly to management. It has been planted successfully by 

 the Forest Service, and on the more favorable sites the seed has been sown 

 successfully. For lumber purposes the red fir requires a rotation of about 150 

 to 200 years; for railroad ties and fence posts a rotation of 75 to 150 years is 

 required. Near a good market and under exceptionally favorable conditions on 

 a low-priced site, the planting of red fir on a short rotation may appeal to the 

 investor, in the not distant future. However, at the present time, natural re- 



