
MANAGEMENT OF YELLOW PINE. 49 
MARKING THE TIMBER. 
Ordinarily all mature and over mature western yellow pine should 
be marked, except when required for seed or protection, since they 
have practically stopped growing. Similarly, all trees which show 
such defects as punk knots, spike tops, bad crooks, low forks, and 
injurious fire scars should be marked for cutting. Even an approxi- 
mate diameter limit should be flexible.. Young, thrifty, rapidly 
growing trees should not be marked, even if larger than the stated 
diameter. Defective trees of any usable size should be marked unless 
there are technical or practical objections. 
At least one-third of the stand should be left to reseed the area, 
provide a second cut, and protect the soil. No ironclad rule, however, 
ean be made that will apply to all conditions; consequently the 
amount left standing should be varied according to local require- 
ments. ‘The economic need of an early second crop should have 
weight. 
Where the danger of windfall is great, but few trees should be 
marked for cutting. This rule would also apply where a dense forest 
cover is needed for the protection of a watershed or to prevent 
erosion. The probable harm from too heavy marking on all slopes 
and in exposed situations must be carefully considered. Each tree 
left should have its crown free enough for vigorous growth. If 
usable, trees which have been badly grouped and have only small, 
sickly crowns should be marked, unless needed to preserve proper 
soil conditions. 
Where there are not enough young trees to form a good stand in 
the future seed trees must be left. These should be thrifty and 
capable of bearing large quantities of seed at once. Occasionally it 
will be necessary to retain seed trees too misshapen or defective to 
be merchantable, but as a rule young trees which will yield good 
lumber in the future should be chosen. Where western yellow pine 
is growing in mixture all seed trees should be of the more valuable 
species, but poorer species are better than none. In situations where 
logging is difficult the practicability of logging individual trees 
should be considered. 
Fewer seed trees should be left where partial reproduction is already 
established than where there are no seedlings, yet if there is danger 
that fire will run over the area enough trees should be left to seed 
the ground fully, whether reproduction is present or not. Large 
openings should not be made or small openings enlarged where the 
future forest will suffer. Seed trees should always be left on the 
edge of openings, such as old burns, on the side from which the pre- 
vailing winds blow. On ridges and along the edges of parks it is 
usually advisable to mark very conservatively. 
5998°—Bull. 101—_11——4 

