TIMBER GROWING IN" THE LODGEPOLE PINE REGION" 27 
volume which will be available for cutting, and may actually mefen 
a longer period before the next harvest will be practicable. This 
situation is of extreme importance, and is prevalent in other regions 
as well. The need for preserving young trees must be " sold " to 
woods workers if this situation is to be remedied. 
CUTTING MEASURES RECOMMENDED 
IN POLE STANDS 
Pole stands occur rather sparsely in the Engelmann spruce and 
Douglas fir types. Cutting in these stands is limited because of in- 
sufficient markets for small material. However, as a general rule 
this class of stand is not so urgently in need of thinning as in the 
lodgepole type, although it would be desirable to remove inferior spe- 
cies, such as alpine fir, and also seriously defective and diseased trees. 
Pole stands of lodgepole pine occur extensively. They are of two 
distinct sorts, the immature, thrifty stand and the stunted stand of 
overmature trees. Whether a selection system of cutting or clear 
cutting should be followed depends upon the character and condition 
of the stand as well as the availability of markets for small material. 
Mature and .overmature pole stands are made up of trees varying 
from 4 inches in diameter breast high and smaller to trees of saw- 
log size. These have resulted from overcrowding on sites adapted to 
the production of saw logs or railroad ties, or from the incapacity of 
the site to grow large material. Generally, market limitations do 
not permit much cutting in stands of this character. Where possible, 
however, all mature trees should be cut, only thrifty, immature trees 
safe from wind throw being reserved. Care should be taken to 
retain any thrifty, windfirm Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir on 
sites suitable for growing these more valuable species. 
Immature pole stands of lodgepole are made up of trees of sizes 
similar to those in the mature stands, but having the capacity of 
putting on increased growth if a thinning is made. The thinning 
should remove the defective, diseased, and poorly formed trees as 
well as those which have been affected most by the crowding. It 
should leave a sufficient number of the better trees in a position and 
condition to produce a maximum amount and quality of wood, and 
for this reason the removal of trees should be undertaken with 
care ; future production is dependent upon the number and character 
of trees selected to form the basis of the next cut. 
Where several trees grow in a group too dense to permit satis- 
factory development, it is desirable to make a thinning if the trees 
retained will profit by the removal of others. Where certain indi- 
viduals have become dominant in a group and are making valuable 
and rapid growth, they should be saved at the expense of suppressed 
and doubtful ones. Also the more valuable species should be fav- 
ored; inferior species should be cut heavily. The trees left should 
be evenly spaced so as to provide room for development. 
Pole stands averaging 8 inches diameter breast high should be so 
thinned as to leave about 300 to 400 trees to the acre — the number 
varying with site conditions and the practicability of frequent cuts. 
Sapling stands averaging 4 or 5 inches diameter breast high should 
similarly be so thinned as to leave 500 to 600 trees to the acre. 
