De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope
De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope
De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope
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104 FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE.<br />
TOLERANCE.-Moderately tolerant, becoming less so with age; endures more shade than<br />
western yellow pine, sugar pine, western white pine, and lodgepole pine, but less than<br />
western hemlock, western red cedar, white and alpine fir, incense cedar, Engelmann, blue,<br />
and Sitka spruces. Tolerance varies with locality and region, being greatest under conditions<br />
<strong>of</strong> best growth. iPartial shade and shelter more necessary in early life where<br />
conditions <strong>of</strong> growth are less favorable. At moist north it thrives in <strong>the</strong> open from<br />
early youth, while in drier regions it prefers shade <strong>of</strong> weeds, brush, etc. <strong>De</strong>nse pure or<br />
mixed stands <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Northwest have clean trunks for about two-thirds <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> length,<br />
while trees <strong>of</strong> open forests and in <strong>the</strong> Rocky Mountains are clean-trunked for only onethird<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir length, or, in scattered stands, carry branches almost to <strong>the</strong> ground. Trunks<br />
clean <strong>the</strong>mselves slowly even in dense stands, which indicates tolerance <strong>of</strong> side shade;<br />
while young trees in dense stands grow rapidly in height, showing <strong>the</strong>ir need <strong>of</strong> overhead<br />
light.<br />
REPRODUCTION.-Generally a prolific seeder, producing seed every year, with specially<br />
good local seed years at intervals <strong>of</strong> three or four years. Power <strong>of</strong> reproduction and<br />
seed formation nearly as great as that <strong>of</strong> yellow pine throughout its range <strong>of</strong> distribution.<br />
Seed with moderately high rate <strong>of</strong> germination at best, but <strong>of</strong>ten low, and with persistent<br />
vitality. Large quantities <strong>of</strong> seed destroyed by insects and eaten by birds and squirrels.<br />
Seed matured at about same time throughout range. Warm, moist, pure mineral soil,<br />
or a mixture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latter and humus, best for germination and development <strong>of</strong> seedlings:<br />
reproduction rare on thick duff or vegetable matter, but abundant in humid regions after<br />
layer has been burned <strong>of</strong>f or broken up by logging; unburned, logged areas are commonly<br />
restocked by its nor<strong>the</strong>rn associates, western hemlock and red cedar. In drier eastern<br />
range burning over ground is usually unfavorable to reproduction, lodgepole pine, aspen,<br />
and o<strong>the</strong>rs restocking burned areas. Under most favorable conditions, reproduction is<br />
extremely dense, an acre being said to carry over 30,000 trees about 3 feet high and 11<br />
years old, while a stand <strong>of</strong> 26-year-old trees averaged 1,068 trees per acre, 45 feet high<br />
and 3j inches in diameter. Such reproduction is frequent in Oregon and Washington.<br />
Bigeone Spruce.<br />
Pseudotsuga nacrocarpa (Torr.) 'Mayr.<br />
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS.<br />
Bigeone spruce, which is a little-known tree, is distinct in appearance and<br />
conspicuous among its usually lower growing associates. It has been long considered<br />
a variety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Douglas fir, owing mainly to <strong>the</strong> identical, but larger,<br />
form <strong>of</strong> its cones and its similar foliage. It is, however, distinct. It is generally<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r stunted in appearance. The wide, pyramidal crown, extending to, or<br />
within a few feet <strong>of</strong>, <strong>the</strong> ground, is open and thin, owing to <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong><br />
branches grow from <strong>the</strong> trunk at very long intervals. Those <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lower part<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crown are exceedingly long, and horizontal, but somewhat drooping at<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir extremities, while <strong>the</strong> short top branches trend upward. Characteristic<br />
short side branchlets, sometimes erect, droop from all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> limbs. The trunk,<br />
clear <strong>of</strong> branches for only a few feet, tapers rapidly from a thick base, reaching<br />
a height <strong>of</strong> from 30 to 60 or, occasionally, 75 feet, and a diameter <strong>of</strong> from 14 to<br />
20 inches. The bark is early roughened at <strong>the</strong> base <strong>of</strong> young trunks. It is blackish<br />
or deep red-brown, and, in old trees, from 2 to 5 or more inches thick near<br />
<strong>the</strong> bottom <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> trunk. <strong>De</strong>ep, wide furrows and ridges, irregularly connected,<br />
mark <strong>the</strong> bark characteristically. The thin-looking foliage is blue-green, with<br />
an ashy tinge. The somewhat curved leaves (fig. 37) grow on all sides <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
branchlets, but by a strong twisting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir stems <strong>the</strong>y appear to come out<br />
mainly from two opposite sides <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> twigs. They are more or less pointed,<br />
but not prickly. Leaves <strong>of</strong> a season's growth remain on <strong>the</strong> branches from 4 to<br />
5 years-possibly longer. The cones (fig. 37), which are very distinctive, mature<br />
early in August, opening by <strong>the</strong> latter part <strong>of</strong> that month or early in September,<br />
and shedding <strong>the</strong>ir seeds. They vary from 3t to about 6 inches in length, and<br />
when open are rich dark brown. Some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cones fall from <strong>the</strong> trees during<br />
<strong>the</strong> winter, but a good many remain for a year or longer on <strong>the</strong> branches. The