Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-01-17
Morning Journal Bureau,
6j3 Munsey Building,
washington. d. G.. Ian. Ia.

Washington, ID. c., Jan. Ia.
G. A. Pearson, an expert in the
government forestry service, has lust
completed an exhaustive investigation
OF the reproduction of western yellow
pine in the southwest, which informa-
ton is contained in a bulletin just is
sued by the department of agriculture.
western yellow pine" says Mr.
Pearson. "haP by far the greatest
commercial Importance Of any tree in
the south Jest. In 1908 it constituted
96.5 ~ cen of the lumber cut Of
A--A5na, and ST. per cent of the cut
iii New Mexico. The extensive pure
stands of it in this region are now
being heavily logged, and this exploit
alton Will undoubtedly increase.
Therefore the perpetuation Of the
trees becomes a problem of vital inn
portance.
Reproduction has not been salts
factory, either in the virgin forest or
after numbering operations, and large
areas once covered with good stands
of yellow pine are now practically
bare. The artificial reforestation Of
denuded areas Is impracticable at
present, yet a study made in 1908 i'm
dicates that proper methods Of man
asement viii insure a satisfactory sec
ond growth
ms WI 4 1Ai E0lt say Sc MI
satisfactory results, forest manage
ment in western yellow pine in the
southwest nus aim 80 ameliorate UNI
favorable climatic conditions. Com
Servation of soil moisture, particularly
in the upper layers, and protection
against frost are tWo essentials. Tor
these no system seems better adapted
han hat known as the stand sys-
tenn or 'shelterwOod compartment
system BY this method the stand
should be cut over moderately at first
in order to stimulate reproduction,
and then, as soon as the young growth
Is well established, the remainder of
the stand should be removed. The
first cutting is to open up the stand
In order to admit sufficient light to
stimulate reproduction, yet without
destroying the protective influence of
the forest. From q silvicultural stand
point the second cutting should be
made IN from twenty TO thirty years
after the first. On many Of the ma
t1onal forests. however. there is much
overfnature timber. and since cut-oyer
areas can not, as a rule, be profitably
logged again until the m"erchantable
stand has been considerably increased.
generally at least fifty years must
elapse before extensive second cuttings
are made. While this is not ideal
management, it is probably the hest
that can be applied generally under
present circumstances. On some for
ests, however, where there is not a
large supply of virgin timber. ana
where a steady supply is needed for
local use, the period between cuttings
car be materially reduced.
Since western yellow pine stands
vary so greatly, there can be no hard
dnd-fast rules as to the amount of
timber to be left after the first cut
ing, every area marked for cut
ting should be made the subject of 2
careful study from the point Of view
OF both the silviculturist and the lum-
herman. The first object should be
TO leave enough trees to insure pro-
lection and seed, with the smallest loss
OF m~erchantable timber: for it must
De borne in mind That if mature trees
are left many of them viii be lost
through windfall or decay before the
second cutting can be made.
"A matter of first Importance is the
distribution of the trees left after cut
ting. The aim should be to leave trees
where they are needed and not sim
ply to cave a certain number OF trees
per acre. Where there ar large natur-
al openings a number of seed-bearing
trees should be left ON the borders,
especially on the windward side, but
where there are good stands Of poles
beyond danger from fire no mature
trees shoui4 be left. OF course. where
there is still a fire risk, a sufficient
number of old trees should remain to
insure reproduction in case of a burn
The selection of the right kind of
trees to leave is no less important
IMAM the choice o. their number and
distribution. No sound black jacks,
or thrifty immature trees. should be
cut unless thinning is desirable. Where
~ Is necessary to leave a yellow pine,
VI iuiiy developed tree. a thrifty, full
crowned n should be selected. De-
Saueht or overmature trees usually
oeaf only a small amount of seed. and
snvN are sure to die before "A second
lung can be made: and slender, |
'nlA-efoNned trees produce but little
80 afford practically no protec-
III from the win. and the minimum
""lvtNt 10 shade So necessary In the
"sis u~rfeloDmept Of young seedlings.
\ Study of thc comparative vital /
~ seftfs from -blscis Fteks snd
vtN-tiurc yellow PINES has shown
" "relaea difference in favor Of the
"'I- ihr average scfnimltinn ier