60 BULLETIN 1402, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE 
Though reservation of trees as a basis for a second cut is good 
silviculture and good management, where continuity of operation is 
desired, certain forms of it are questionable. 
The cutting of pine only from mixed stands of pine and fir is a 
practice of dubious value. Although with present markets it is 
often difficult to sell the firs (especially white fir) at a profit, to 
leave them all is likely to reduce seriously the income from the 
second and third cuts. The question really concerns principally 
the very old, large, and defective white firs, which often are mere 
shells of sound wood. Leaving thrifty sound fir up to a diameter 
of 24 or even 30 inches is good practice. 
If the defective veterans are left, it should be with a clear under- 
standing that deterioration will continue, for the tendency will 
be for rot to destroy the valuable heartwood more rapidly than 
new wood is formed. Thus net loss rather than growth is to be 
anticipated in this class of trees, even if they survive. They are 
as valuable now as they are ever likely toi be. Moreover, death 
from wind throw, wind breakage, and insects is ordinarily high 
where large firs are left standing, resulting in loss of some valuable 
material and increase in the fire hazard. It is decidedly desirable 
to cut and utilize the veterans at the time of logging. 
The principal drawback to leaving the old white fir is, however, 
not so much the fate of the trees themselves as it is the hampering 
influence they exert on the young and thrifty portion of the new 
forest. The large tre-es are certain to reduce greatly the growth 
rate, particularly of seedlings and saplings^ — the basis of the third 
cut; and also of trees already of merchantable size — the basis for 
the second cut. Furthermore, the space occupied by the decadent 
veterans themselves is not available for thrifty growing stock. The 
owner looking forward to future crops can ill afford to reduce his 
profits in this fashion. 
Even if a large quantity of thrifty fir is left — which can well 
be done, since such trees after logging grow at a rate higher than 
that of yellow pine and only equaled by sugar pine — it is desirable 
to leave pine seed trees. Pine reproduces more rapidly on cut- 
over lands than does fir, and is thus needed to- complete the new 
forests. The value of the pines will undoubtedly continue high. 
The problem of defective fir in present-day cutting is thus a per- 
plexing one. If logging and manufacturing costs will clearly not 
be repaid by the selling price, the next best course is to fell the 
trees and leave them in the woods. This will not ordinarily represent 
a heavy outlay, and is advisable for the owner with a settled land 
policy. 'I'he cost is certain to be more, than repaid by increased 
growth on the thrifty trees in the stand. 
The conclusions stated and practices recommended are based on 
the wide experience of the Forest Service in the California pine 
region and on a very large amount of research work in methods of 
cutting that combine the various major objectives. In this connection 
it is unnecessary to discuss again the importance of timber types. 
The virgin forest is so variable that hard and fast rules, specifying 
the exact treatment for each type, are generally Avorthless, and if 
followed literally lead to poor practice, particularly in reserving 
trees. The plan of this discussion is therefore to present principles 
