June 1,1925 
Reproduction of Engelmann Spruce 
1009 
GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 
The essential facts controlling the 
establishment of Engelmann spruce 
seedlings as shown by these studies 
may be briefly stated. The conserva¬ 
tion of the surface soil moisture 
throughout the critical dry period is 
the essential requirement. Reproduc¬ 
tion of spruce from seed deposited in 
the duff can not be depended on under 
any conditions. Mineral soil surfaces 
and lightly burned surfaces decisively 
favor the quick restocking of Engel¬ 
mann spruce under favorable moisture 
conditions; but showers of seed over 
the cut-over tract must be provided 
for during several years following cut¬ 
ting. 
On the basis of these conclusions the 
following deductions should govern the 
method of treatment of spruce stands: 
Seed trees must be reserved on cut¬ 
over areas, despite possibility of wind- 
throw. 
The conservation of soil moisture 
will require an adaptation of cutting 
and logging methods to the exposure. 
On southerly exposures a selective type 
of cutting is required. On northern 
exposures an approximate clear-cutting 
may be practical, but with provision 
for seed supply. 
On protected areas as large a per¬ 
centage as possible of the duff or litter 
covering of the soil and the native 
vegetation must be broken up or 
burned over. This indicates power 
logging methods and a more general 
burning over the area than is secured 
by burning of piled slash. On areas 
desiccated by sun and wind logging by 
horses is required. 
In all cases the complete control of 
slash fires is required. On southerly 
slopes slash must be piled and burned; 
on protected areas it may be burned in 
windrows, with adequate control. 
A dense vegetative cover will render 
the soil as critically dry for spruce repro¬ 
duction as will an exposed situation. 
