June 1, 1925 
Reproduction o f Engelmann Spruce 
999 
Table I. — Composition of transect on Moose Lake area, 0.1 chain wide by 55 
chains long 
WL=Western larch; LPP=lodgepole pine. 
«Engelmann spruce 14 and 36 inches d. b. h., still alive. 
d Scattering trees of alpine fir and Engelmann spruce still alive. 
entire area, it may be concluded that 
reproduction of Engelmann spruce can 
be assured on burned-over areas in the 
spruce type proper where the soil is 
favorable to germination and survival 
and a supply of seed is present. On 
the southerly exposure above the lower 
slope, lodgepole pine will first take 
possession of the site and for a con¬ 
siderable period will be the predomi¬ 
nant species. In time the spruce and 
alpine fir will increase in ratio and, in 
at least a portion of this type, will 
eliminate the temporary lodgepole pine. 
On the northerly exposure, however, a 
stand of Engelmann spruce and alpine 
fir will follow immediately. 
The importance of taking into full 
account the influence of exposure on 
the restocking of spruce stands is here 
apparent. For example, a selection 
cut that will give spruce greater ad¬ 
vantage over lodgepole pine is indi¬ 
cated for the southerly exposures, 
while approximately a clean cut will 
accomplish the same result on the 
northerly exposures. 
IN THE NATURAL FOREST 
An examination of the course of 
reproduction in the openings of the 
natural forest untouched by fire or by 
man discloses other factors governing 
the survival of spruce seedlings, which 
supplement those found to hold true 
on the burns. Studies for this pur¬ 
pose were made on 11 sample plots in 
the Blackfeet National Forest, on 
which conditions surrounding repro¬ 
duction were very similar to those fol¬ 
lowing a selection cutting in the 
spruce-fir type. 
Both Engelmann spruce and alpine 
fir are tolerant species, and form 
forest stands typically suited to selec¬ 
tion cutting when the course of plant 
succession is permitted to continue 
long enough without disturbance from 
outside agencies. Consequently these 
species are found growing up in open¬ 
ings, and causing the old forest to 
assume a group composition which is 
indicative of the manner of renewal 
(pi. 3, A and B). 
The natural reproduction per acre 
enerally found in the spruce-alpine 
r mixtures is typified in the following 
figures from the rj-acre sample plots: 2 
Engelmann spruce, up to 2 inches d. b. h_ 96. 
Engelmann spruce, 3 to 8 inches d. b. b. 64 
Alpine fir, up to 2 inches d. b. h___153 
Alpine fir, 3 to 8 inches d. b, h-- 151 
2 An investigation in Colorado showed that the Engelmann spruce was more numerous than the alpine 
fir in the reproduction. Hodson, E. R., and Foster, J. H. engelmann spruce in the rocky moun¬ 
tains. TJ. S. Dept. Agr., Forest Serv. Circ 170, 23 p., 1910. 
