Table 2. -- Average cone c rop ratings for Southeast Alaska. 

 1956, 1957, and 1958. 



Rating 



^P^^^^^ 1956 1957 1958 1959" 



Sitka Spruce 7 2 6 7 



Western hemlock 4 6 3 6 



Western redcedar 8 1 1/ 7 



1/ Insufficient data for rating. 



reported in Canada for young stands of Douglas -fir was tried in western hemlock- 

 Sitka spruce stands. The results were published in Technical Note No. 48, 

 "Estimating site index in sapling and pole stands in Southeast Alaska". 



Briefly, the method consists of measuring the distance between the first six 

 nodes above breast height on six dominant and codominant spruce on each plot. 

 The 6-node span is used to determine site index from figure 8 or by the for- 

 mula: 



Site Index = 6.5 (6-node span in feet) / 55. 1 



Some cautions in using the method and the limits of accuracy that may be ex- 

 pected are explained in Technical Note No. 48. 



^ A big problem in the Interior will be regeneration of white spruce, paper 

 birch, and aspsn. These species are widespread and considerable Information 

 is available from Canadian, U.S. , and foreign sources. A thorough study of 

 the literature is in progress to determine what information might be applicable 

 to Interior Alaska. The review will also identify some of the larger gaps in in- 

 formation needed under Interior conditions. 



^ Identification of Spruce Seedlings in Interior Alaska. --While mature white 

 spruce and black spruce are readily identified, they are difficult to differentiate 

 in the juvenile stages. A study of seedlings grown from seed in the laboratory 

 and of natural seedlings under field conditions was made to investigate diagnos- 

 tic characteristics reported in Canada and elsewhere. 



16 



