FOREST PLANTING IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN REGION. 



37 



As blue spruce has a relatively low commercial value and only 

 fairly good reproduction throughout its limited range, its use in 

 forest planting is therefore very restricted. It is, however, a very 

 desirable shade and ornamental tree and it offers considerable promise 

 for use as such. It has been planted on lawns throughout the inter- 

 mountain region, and has grown splendidly where given plenty of 

 water. 



WESTERN WHITE PINE (Pinus monticola). 



Although not native to the intermountain region, western white 

 pine has been planted to a limited extent in Utah and eastern Idaho. 

 The oldest successful plantation consists of 2-2 stock planted in 

 1912 in scattering aspen and open brush on the Big Cottonwood 

 watershed, Wasatch National Forest. At the end of the eighth 

 year this plantation showed a survival of 53.5 per cent, with 47.5 

 per cent vigorous, the average height of which is 13.4 inches. Table 



3-1 



£cxtyefio/e P/na 



FIG. 



-Typical development of lodgepole pine, blue spruce, Norway spruce, and western white pine 

 grown in the Cottonwood Nursery, Wasatch National Forest, Utah. 



18 shows that 3-0, 2-2, and 4-1 stock have been planted with success. 

 Western white pine shows a natural tendency to develop a fibrous 

 root system, even 3-0 stock showing a surprisingly good survival. 

 In selecting the most desirable age class, the important essential is 

 to secure a sufficiently large top at the time of transplanting so that 

 it may be allowed to remain only one year in the transplant bed. 

 From Figure 6 it can be seen that the 4-1 stock as grown at the 

 Cottonwood Nursery was the most desirable class of stock planted. 

 Although this species has shown promise for limited planting on the 

 moister moderately open aspen-and-brush-covered sites, it is doubt- 

 ful whether it should be used extensively on account of its relatively 

 slow growth. This species is therefore not recommended for plant- 

 ing in this region. 



