



MANAGEMENT OF YELLOW PINE. 59 
tion of each spot be selected with care. Another important point 
in direct seeding is the necessity for firming down the surface of the 
soil where any preparation is given it. If the soil is loosened up and 
the seed sown merely on the top of it without being pressed down, 
the surface layer of the soil is likely to dry out and make it impos- 
sible for the seed to germinate or for the seedling to get a start 
should germination take place. The seed should not, of course, be 
pressed too deep into the earth, but should merely be stepped on 
and the soil pushed into place. The important point in seed-spot 
work is to clear away a sufficient area of sod and other vegetation 
that would be likely to choke out the young seedlings, and then to 
bring the seed sown into close contact with the firm mineral soil. 
There is also danger of sowing the seed too deep, especially where 
furrows are plowed and the seed sown either on the bottom or side 
of the furrow. The danger is that the soil on the side of the furrow 
will wash down and either cover the seed so deep that it will not 
germinate or else bury the seedling after it has got a start. 
OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME. 
In addition to furnishing timber, the western yellow-pine forests 
offer range for horses, cattle, and sheep. The grass within the 
western yellow-pine type is above the average quality, yet it takes 
at least 8 acres to support 1 sheep and 40 acres for each horse or cow. 
It must be remembered, however, that both cattle and horses usually 
run over the same area within the limits of the western yellow-pine 
type. The average yearlong fee is 12 cents for sheep, 35 cents for 
cattle, and 40 cents for horses, or approximately 1 cent per acre per 
year for each class of stock. 
Seed from western yellow pine will readily sell for $1 a pound, but 
as yet this industry has not been developed. There is but one com- 
mercial seed collector in Arizona and New Mexico. 
There is no evidence that western yellow pine has been tapped for 
resin in the southwestern United States; yet during the Civil War 
it was successfully boxed in Butte’ and Tehama Counties, Cal., 
while the high prices prevailed. After the war operations ceased. 
Extensive commercial operations with this species are carried on at 
Madera, Chihauhua, Mexico.?, In August, 1910, turpentine experi- 
ments were started on the Coconino Forest.* Ninety trees were 
boxed and hung with 190 cups, under a cup system. The first streak 
was put on August 3, the first dipping was made on August 24, and 
the last dipping on September 14. The two dippings yielded 272 

1. A. Sterling, Forest Conditions in the Sierras, 1906. 
2 Reported by W. D. Sterrett, Forest Service. 
3H. S. Betts, Turpentine Experiments on Western Yellow Pine, preliminary report in 
manuscript, 1910. 


