N 7-1-32 



all the time. Insteaxi of growing tlie crop of trees all the same age, then 

 harvesting that crop all at once, then vraiting a long time until another 

 crop is produced, Nature keeps the woods in continuous production. 



The forestry experts say that progressive limibermen follow tlie sys- 

 tem of selection used "by ITature in the virgin redxrood forest. That same 

 system applies in growing other trees "beside redwoods. 



As you know, we have "been largely "bro-ught tip on the idea of the 

 pioneer with his ax clearing the forest to make way for agriculture on the 

 cleared land. 



In these latter days, however, we've fotmd that doesn't always work 

 so well, ITot only lias the cleaning "been carried so far that we have "begun 

 to worry where the future supply of lun'ber is coming from, "but we liave also 

 found tliat some lands grow timber "better tlian ajoything else, T7e have come 

 to look on timher as a crop. But trees don't mature in a single season, 

 like our anntial crops such as com or wheat. We can't cut off all the trees 

 ajid then plant seed and have another crop ready for harvest next season. It 

 takes time to grow a tree. 



However, as our foresters have pointed out, in the virgin forest 

 all the trees are not of an even age. There are many different ages repro- 

 sontcd, 3y following the forest's own system and selecting the trees as 

 they nature and leaving groups of trees to restock the ground, they say, 

 wc can keep the woods in practically continuous production. 



However, these giant redwoods may take h-undreds of years to reach 

 the fuLl majesty of their complete growth. The forest experts say that the 

 old giants of the redwood forest arc "beautiful to "beheld but unprofitable 

 to grow. They would have certain forests kept in continuous production 

 according to nature's method of selection, but for practical l"umber produo- 

 tion they would cut the new trees when still very young for redwoods, 



Tlie redwood tree takes a long, long time to attain its tremendous 

 growth, yet it is fast growing. The yield of fxilly stocked redwood forests 

 exceeds an^'^thing known among other American conifers even surpassing the 

 Doublas fir of the ITorthwest, On the best sites, the foresters say, the 

 average redwood at 50 ;''ears is 8 inches in diameter and 51 feet high, and 

 on good sites the average redwood is 9 inches in diameter and 53 feet high. 

 At that rate of growth, they figure that within fifty years a satisfactory'- 

 mercliantable forest of redwoods can be produced. The wood thotigh consist- 

 ing largely of con::ion lumber ajid railroad ties, will be compairable in qual- 

 ity to similar grades from old-growth timber. TRien we talk about redwood 

 forests we usually think of a forest made up altogether of redwoods. But 

 the virgin redwood forest generally includes a considerable mixture of 

 other trees. Redwood is rarely fotmd in pure stands except on those par- 

 tially stocl:ed cut-over lands where powerful logging macliinery and repeated 

 fires have destroyed sill the seed trees of other trees. With redwoods in 

 the virgin forest are foiond Do-uglas firs, low-land firs, Sitlca spruces, 

 and western hemlock ajid such hardwoods as tanbark oak, and California laurel 

 and red alder. 



Our forest experts say tliat it is important tliat the redwoods do 

 usually grow in association with other troos. Such mixtTorcs often servo 



