28 



BULLETIN 1264, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



should not be considered as planting sites, as Douglas fir does not 

 flourish, in full sunlight except where soil moisture is exceptionally 

 good. 



7. The optimum planting sites for Douglas fir in Utah are old fir 

 burns just above the brush belt, which hare grown up to aspen of 

 moderate density: old fir bums on steep northern exposures strewn 

 with down logs or grown up to open stands of brush; and moist sites 

 in the aspen-oak brush tension zone on slopes which have good cover 



and free air drainage. 



EXGELMAXX SPRUCE. 



Engelmann spruce is native to the region, being found in Utah on 

 steep northern exposures from 7 ; 500 feet upward to the highest peaks, 

 10.000 feet or more in altitude. Its optimum development occurs on 





Fig. 5.— Development of Engelmann spruce stock of different age classes grown in the Cottonwood 

 Nursery, Wasatch National forest, Utah. 



moist, cool sites between 8,500 and 9.500 feet. Even here it seldom 

 forms extensive stands on flats or southern exposures, but in these 

 places appears as scattered individual trees or in clumps with limber 

 pine (Pmus jlexilis) and aspen. Alpine fir is a constant associate of 

 Engelmann spruce throughout the type. 



Classes of planting stock. — Four age classes of Engelmann spruce 

 have been considered from time to time as having possibilities in field 

 planting. These are 2-2, 3-0, 3-1, and 3-2, a comparison of which 

 is shown in Table 13. 2-1 stock is entirely too small for field use. 

 besides being too small to transplant satisfactorily when 2 years old. 

 2 2 stock is also objectionable because of the latter fact. Under 

 norma] conditions 3-year-old seedlings have reached a suitable size 

 to b( -anted and yet do not have oversized tops. Howe 1 



this class ck is distinctly lacking in fibrous root development, 



as may be seen from Figure 5. With one additional year in the 

 transplant bed an excellent balance between root and top is usually 

 developed. An abnormally short growing season the nrst year in 



