These water-power sites on the National Forests 
are leased by the Government to companies. 
Stretches of National Forest are recognized as 
being chiefly valuable for outdoor recreation, and 
forest lands of this type are set aside to be used 
entirely as recreation areas. The Columbia 
Gorge Park division of the Oregon National 
Forest is forest land of this kind. 
A Short Key to the Forest Trees. 
In the following check list of forest trees it is 
purposed to describe the forest trees of this region 
in the fewest possible words in order to bring it 
within the limited space available. No attempt 
is made to present an elaborate key or give de- 
tailed descriptions. 
give the forest traveler a few hints which will help 
him to identify at least some of the forest trees 
growing along the trails and in the forested parts 
of the Mount Hood region. 
The pines have long needles, which are always 
Its greatest use will be to 
borne in bundles, never more than five needles 
in a bundle. ‘The larches haye short needles in 
clusters or tufts, up to 30 or more needles in one 
cluster. 
short needles, which do not grow in bundles but 
The hemlocks, firs, end spruces all have 
are scattered singly along the twigs. In the case 
of the hemlocks the needles are soft, flat, and 
round at the ends and arranged only on the sides 
of the twig, making a flat spray; with the true 
firs the needles are flat and notched at the ends, 
and on account of a twist around the twig appear 
to be distributed on its upper half. In the case 
of the spruces the needles are stiff and sharp 
pointed, prickly to the touch, and distributed all 
around the twig. 
The needles of Douglas fir, which is not true 
fir, are sharp pointed, but not stiff or prickly. 
The best way to distinguish this tree, however, is 
by its cones, which have peculiar three-pointed 
bracts or leaf-like scales protruding from between 
the regular scales. 
The foliage of cedars is not made up of needles, 
but ot very small leaf-scales, which clasp the twig 
closely. It should be stated also that although 
the yew is an evergreen tree with needles some- 
what similar to hemlock, it is not a conifer, since 
it bears characteristic red berry-like fruits in 
place of cones. 
The user of this key should keep in mind that 
a short description can not cover the wide varia- 
tions that are bound to occur in trees of the same 
species due to difference in age, size, and habitat. 
Lengths of needles and cones may be found to 
vary quite considerably from the average dimen- 
sions given in this description. In all cases the 
descriptions here given are aimed to fit the typical 
mature trees. It should also be borne in mind 
that timber-line trees occur not only as the last 
outposts of tree growth where they are short and 
stunted, but also grow down the slopes several 
thousand feet lower, where they mingle with 
other trees and have a respectable form and size. 
