man'ageme:n't plans — the national foeests 69 



the overstory more lieavily than would be the practice if this species were to 

 remain the dominant one in the stand and form the basis for future cuts. 

 On sites where several species occur in mixture, the more desirable species will 

 be favored. 



Inferior species. — White fir and alpine fir are inferior species, the removal 

 of which is desirable in all types. Except in extensive pure stands of these 

 species, all trees of merchantable size will be cut, which means that utilization 

 of all trees at least 10 inches d. b. h. and larger will be required. The policy 

 will be to withhold from the market any areas on which the percentage of 

 these species is so large that an operator can not or will not utilize them. Until 

 conditions become such that all inferior species, marked as outlined, can be 

 utilized, applicants will all be directed to areas where the percentage of such 

 species is so low that they can be handled. 



GENERAL MAEKING CONSIDEEATIONS 



Thinning. — Stands of immature timber that are too dense to permit of proper 

 development occur in nearly all types. These stands may occur as pole stands 

 covering considerable areas or as small patches or clumps within areas of older 

 timber. In either case it is good silviculture to thin these stands by removing 

 sufficient trees to provide room for the remainder of the young stand to develop. 

 The extent to which thinning can be practiced depends almost entirely upon 

 the class of products that the markets can absorb. At present we are unable 

 to conduct operations in many stands of small sized timber where thinnings 

 are silviculturally desirable. 



In general, thinnings will be made from below. That is, the poorer and 

 usually crowded or partially suppressed trees will be taken to make room for 

 the better individuals. Where, through natural survival of the fittest, a few 

 trees in the group have attained dominance and the others are more or less 

 badly crowded so that their response to release is questionable, it is obviously 

 poor practice to mark the larger trees to make room for the poorer ones. These 

 larger trees are reaching the point where they are making the most valuable 

 and rapid growth and to cut these to free doubtful trees will detract from the 

 yield obtainable in the next cut. In making thinnings, the aim should be to 

 attain ample and approximately equal spacing in the stand left on^the ground. 



Christmas-tree cutting of Douglas fir. — Christmas trees will be cut only from 

 stands that are in actual need of thinning. The production of Christmas 

 trees will never be the ultimate objective in managing any national forest 

 timber. Such trees will be harvested only as by-products from thinnings 

 designed to improve the stand and facilitate the eventual production of 

 commercial timber. 



Cutting on Christmas-tree areas will be done only by forest officers or cutters 

 working under the immediate supervision of forest officers. 



No very definite rules governing thinning can be established, as the degree 

 of thinning depends upon the size and condition of the trees in the stand. The 

 general aim is to leave thrifty, well-formed trees, as well spaced as possible, 

 and with crowns completely freed. Spacing will vary usually from 8 by 8 

 feet to as much as 16 by 16 feet. The number of trees left per acre will of 

 course vary in proportion to the spacing attained. 



^ Timler cutting on scenic areas. — Around the more important areas used, or 

 likely to be used, extensively for recreation, the policy will be to make an 

 improvement cutting removing dead, insect-infested, and diseased trees, and 

 only such other trees in need of removal as can be spared without marring the 

 beauty of the setting. 



^ Along highways the standard marking policy should not be varied if sufficient 

 timber will remain to insure a forested appearance on the area. It is very 

 desirable for the public to see forestry in practice. However, in case the 

 character of the stand is such that under the regular marking policy only 

 scattered seed trees will be left for any great distance along a road, trees of a 

 character ordinarily marked for cutting will be reserved to the extent necessary 

 to avoid leaving areas that have a denuded appearance. 



On camp and summer-home sites shade is an important feature, and unless 

 marking according to the standard practice will result in adequate shade on 

 such areas sufficient trees will be left for this purpose. As far as possible 

 the additional trees should be those that will last over until the next cutting. 



