FOREST PLANTING IN THE INTEKMOUNTAIN EEGION. 33 



Sites suitable for lodgepole pine. — This species has been planted 

 extensively throughout the region, both within and outside of its 

 natural range. In eastern Idaho and western Wyoming it was 

 planted in aspen, in the open, and on Douglas fir burns similar to 

 those upon which lodgepole pine has come in naturally as a temporary 

 type following fire. In Utah pla.ntings were made more than 100 

 miles outside of the natural range, on different kinds of brush lands, 

 under aspen, in the open, and on Douglas fir and Engelmann spruce 

 burns. One of the tallest and best-looking plantations in the region 

 is one which was established in the fall of 1910 on the Big Cottonwood 

 Canyon watershed. The trees, although very small when planted, 

 were about 4 feet high 10 years later and were growing at the rate 

 of 6 inches or more per season, which is a very good record for this 

 region. The survival in the majority of the plantations was also 

 very good. 



Table 16 summarizes the results of experimental plantations of 

 lodgepole pine in Utah, eastern Idaho, and western Wyoming, on 

 which definite records are available. From the results obtained it 

 would appear that this species offers as good or even better possi- 

 bilities for reforesting many of the Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and 

 possibly some of the adverse Engelmann spruce burns, than any other 

 species tested, for the following reasons: (1) The plantations show 

 a lower mortality and a larger percentage of vigorous trees than those 

 of any other species; (2) the trees are frost hardy and practically 

 immune from snow-molding injury; and (3) it makes a more rapid 

 growth than the other species. 



The best lodgepole pine planting sites are found on northern, 

 eastern, or western exposures and in the order of their favorability 

 are: (1) Medium to thin aspen, (2) open brush, and (3) dense brush. 

 Subsequent growth is always best in the open. 



The survival of lodgepole pine is not markedly different in any 

 altitude, from the oak brush to the upper spruce zones (7,500 to 

 10,000 feet). At the 'lower elevations survival is best under a good 

 cover of oak brush, at intermediate elevations under a light cover of 

 aspen, and at the higher altitudes apparently in the open. It is 

 interesting to note, however, that in the sagebrush type the trees 

 showed a higher survival and a larger percentage of vigorous trees 

 on land from which the sagebrush had- been cleared, than when 

 planted among the sage bushes. This is due to the elimination, by 

 clearing the land, of the root competition for the meager supply 

 of available soil moisture. This method offers relatively little promise 

 of application on an extensive scale, owing to the high cost. 



NORWAY SPRUCE. 



Norway spruce, native to northern Europe as well as to the moun- 

 tains of central Europe, has been planted in the eastern United States 

 with some success. This species was tested on practically all sites 

 where Engelmann spruce has been planted, from the oak-brush zone 

 to the middle of the Engelmann spruce zone. In most cases similar 

 stock of both species was planted concurrently by the same planting 

 crew. Table 17 gives a summary of the results obtained with 

 Norway spruce. In comparing the results obtained with these 



