The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-30
LODGEPoLE PINE.
A Tree of Iasree~fng Importance How Fire Assists its Establishment.

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 A Tree of Iseree%fng Importance
 How Fire Assists its Estabiishr0cns'
 The Iodgepole pine. which Is known in the Sierras of California ns tama- rack pine, and in Colorado and Mon tana is sometimes called white pines jack pine, pinyon. and scrub pine, bears the common name of lodgepole from the fact that the Indians used US long slender trunks as supports TOT their wigwams or lodges. It's geo Rraphical range Is along the ROCKY Mountains from Alaska to New Mexl- co and westward to the Pacific coast. In the United States 1t Is found Tn merchantabIe quantity and dimensions on the spurs and eastern slopes or the Rocky Mountains throughout Southern Montana, Wyoming and Colorado In the Bitter Root Mountains of idaho, the Uintah Range in Utah, and Tn the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming. Ihe Bureau of Forestry is studying the species throughout this range Of US best commercial distribution.
 Lodgepole pine grows at all altitudes between 3,000 and 10,50O feet above sea level. In the Gallatin Mountains or Montana and in the mountainous couh- fry south and east of Yellowstone Park if reaches it's largest size at elevations between 45OO and 5000 feet. In Colo rado. however, towards the southern limit of it's range, the conditions which are necessary to It's best growth are found between 5000 and 1O,5OO feet elevation.
 Lodgepole pine is valuable, for one reason. because 1t grows on high noun tain slopes, and also on old "ourns' where other trees find difficulty in ob- taining a foothold. It readily adapts itself to most diverse soil conditions but thrives best where there Is con siderable moisture. It's roots accom- modate themselves to the shallow soil common in the localities where It grows. At very early age thlS tree produces cones in large quantities, and after 1t Is ten years old the seed are generally fertile. The cones some times open and distribute the seeds as soon as they are ripe, though more commonly they remain on the trees for years with their seed carefully pre- served beneath the scales. In many cases squirrels cut off the closed cones and hide them away in the ground. IT a fire occurs before the seeds are eaten it will cause the cones to open and set them free. As a rule. however, the cones of many seasons remain on the trees until a fire comes along and, by heating them, liberates the seeds, when a dense growth of seedlings follows.
 In many localities where lodgepole pine now grows, the ground was orig inally covered with Engelmann spruce in mixture with red fir and other spe- cies Repeated fires laid waste these forests and prevented their reproduc- ton by destroying the seed and the thick forest floor of decaying leaves and litter, which is absolutely essential for the seed germination of these species. Lodgepole pine, however, thrives on an impoverished soil and its great seeding capacity and the ability of the cones to withstand ire cause 1t to spread quickly over burned areas. In pbces where the pine has carpeted the ground again with quantity of forest litter, and where lumbering has thinned the forest suf- fciently for the light requirements Of Engelmann spruce and red fir, these more valuable trees are found taking the place of lodgepole pine. Thus if fires can be kept out of the woods of this region, these more important trees can be produced in many places where they are now virtually extinct.
 The wood of lodgepole pine Is light yellow to nearly white in color. with a coarse but straight grain. It is more resinous than the Eastern white pima but less so than the yellow pines of the South. It is soft and easily worked, and would make excellent finishing | lumber were 1t not for the abundance of small though hard knots, and for It's tendency to warp and check with seasoning. Without doubt the best use of Iodgepole pine at present. and the one to which it Is most largely put, is for railroad ties and mine props; but to be utilized with the greatest profit for these purposes the timber must first be | subjected to preservative treatment