in clearcut areas as it was under shelterwood stands. Where the shelterwood stand was 

 not removed early in the regeneration process, hemlock reproduction now almost com- 

 pletely dominates the new stand. On clearcuts or shelterwood regenerated stands where 

 the overwood was removed promptly after regeneration was obtained, the full -sunlight 

 environment has generally resulted in reproduction with a greater variety of species in 

 the potential crop-tree stand. 



Natural regeneration of grand fir on these moist sites seems to have been best 

 under a shelterwood stand, but was suppressed by hemlock when the shelterwood was 

 retained too long. 



Western white pine regeneration has been prompt and adequate, but protection from 

 blister rust has been a continuous and costly job. Like grand fir, but to a greater 

 extent, western white pine was dominated by hemlock reproduction under the prolonged 

 shade of shelterwood stands. 



Although western larch is of minor numerical importance in the reproduction stands 

 on these areas, it usually becomes dominant on any quadrat on which it occurs, due to 

 its rapid early growth. A rather curious decline in the stocking percentage of larch 

 appears to have occurred, even under clearcut conditions, after an initial period of 

 continuous build-up. 



Douglas-fir was a minor component of the reproduction stand on all study areas of 

 the Thuj a-Tsuga/Pachistima habitat type. In older, unmanaged stands of this habitat 

 type, Douglas-fir is nearly always a minor and short-lived stand component. Until its 

 performance in stands characterized as Thuj a-Tsuga/Pachistima habitat type has been 

 proven, it should probably not be relied upon as an important element of the crop-tree 

 stands . 



Abies grandis / Pachistima Habitat Type 



Dry sites, represented at the Deception Creek Experimental Forest by the Abies 

 grandis/Pachistima habitat type, are characterized by a prolonged forest regeneration 

 period which may exceed 20 years. With such long regenerative periods, additional time 

 and growth will be lost through subsequent years of severe competition from other 

 vegetation, mainly shrubs. 



None of the species restocked these areas as rapidly as they did those areas of 

 the Thuj a-Tsuga/Pachistima habitat type, and their importance differed considerably. 

 Grand fir was the most abundant species in the new stands, followed closely by western 

 white pine and Douglas-fir. Under selection cuttings, grand fir promises to dominate 

 future stands to the almost complete exclusion of other, less shade-tolerant species. 

 Clearcut and shelterwood conditions have resulted in regeneration of the greatest 

 variety of species. 



Douglas-fir has a much more important role in these south-slope reproduction stands 

 than on the moist sites. It is more abundant under these south-slope conditions and it 

 maintains better vigor through to maturity. 



Some important factors that determine what regeneration prescription is best for 

 a given area include: 



1. Species desired in the future stand. With the demonstrated uncertainty of the 

 comparative economic values as well as unforeseen species' susceptibility to 

 certain disease or insect epidemics, it would seem that "mixtures" should 

 usually be favored in regeneration planning — conditioned by the use of avail- 

 able and pertinent information on suitability of species to the site and to 

 each other. 



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