46 



transportation to the factories. In the mountains of AVest Virginia 

 this problem is solved by broad and narrow gauge railroads, with 

 branch tramroads running through the forest, the latter extending 

 into and following up the cuttings. Therefore the cost of taking out 

 the dead along with the living timber is a small item. 



The determination of the relative value of the dead timber and its 

 rate of deterioration under different conditions and in different locali- 

 ties, together with recommendations for the practical utilization of 

 that which is worth saving, is a problem which will doubtless receive 

 its due share of attention from Mr. Cary and other expert foresters in 

 northwestern Maine. Mr. Cary is in an ideal position for the future 

 investigation of such matters. The knowledge recently gained by 

 him from being with Dr. Yon Schrenk in his investigation of fungous 

 diseases of trees, and the writer, in the investigation of the insect 

 enemies, will probably render the results of his further investigations 

 all the more valuable. 



It is plain that, if as large a percentage of the wood of the dead trees 

 remains sound for as long a period as our observations would indi- 

 cate, the amount to be saved in its utilization at as early a date as 

 possible would go far toward paying the expenses of extending roads 

 for the purpose far in advance of the regular cutting. 



IMPORTANCE OF HARVESTING THE MATURED CROP OP SPRUCE. 



Since it has been definitely determined that the spruce-destroy ing 

 beetle confines its attack to spruce trees over 10 inches in diameter, 

 and that by far the larger percentage killed by it range from 18 to 24 

 inches, it seems clear that the matured or large timber should be har- 

 vested as rapidly as is consistent with good business management. 

 This would not only save the larger living trees from attack, but 

 would facilitate the utilization of such of the dead trees as may yet 

 yield a quantity of merchantable material. 



This is a problem, however, like the preceding, which must be con- 

 sidered from the standpoint of the expert forester, and, in its applica- 

 tion, made to conserve the best interests of the timber owners. It has, 

 therefore, been the writer's intention to do no more than to call atten- 

 tion to what has been learned of the relation of the spruce-destroying 

 beetle to the virgin spruce areas and matured timber as an important 

 factor to be considered in future management. 



Mr. Cary refers to the subject of cutting the spruce in damaged 

 and endangered localities in The Forester, March, 1000, page 54, as 

 follows : 



There need not be. under present conditions, any comparatively great loss. 

 Extensive lumbering is being carried on throughout the region in which the 

 insect is known to exist. The bodies of uncut timber are nearly all accessible. 

 Cuttings can be turned in the direction of the damaged or endangered localities. 

 and cutting serves not merely to save the dead timber to us, but also, it would 



