De I. VNER VEW D Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope

FOREST TREES OF THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Its range the precipitation varies with increase in altitude and for dry and wet years
from about 18 to over 60 inches. At high altitudes the snowfall is often very heavy.
At Summit, an annual snowfall of nearly 700 inches, equivalent to 70 inches of rain,
has been reported. The winters are long but mild, and the flowering and pollination of
bigtree take place as early as February or March, although spring does not commence
until considerably later. The climate varies little with latitude, because as bigtree extends
southward it grows at increasingly higher elevations.
TOLERANCE.-Tolerant of but little shade at any stage; for vigorous growth, abundant
overhead light required from the start. Endures more shade during early youth than
In old age, when crowns are always in full light. Under dense shade young plants grow
very slowly, and have sparse foilage, flat crowns, and a gnarly habit, showing need of
light. Such trees, however, often survive for a number of years, recovering slowly with
light. General absence of reproduction in all but openings in forest and in open ground
adjacent to seed trees shows clearly that light is a most important factor in early life.
Endures considerable side shade; close stands of trees, 20 to 30 years old, often retaining
branches to ground, while in full light they are kept many more years.
RxPRODUCTION.-An abundant seeder at short intervals, with specially heavy seed
years; some seed usually borne annually in parts of range. Seed of moderately high
rate germination, with persistent vitality. Open-grown trees may bear seed sparingly
when 18 or 20 years old. Seed production in forest, much later; mainly when from
150 to 200 years old. Seeds are scattered in late fall and early winter. Lightness of
seed permits restocking of open ground for several hundred yards from mother trees.
Germination mainly and best on exposed mineral soil; seedlings rare or wanting on heavy
litter, which they can not penetrate. Reproduction generally best on burned areas, where
fire has cleared off litter, and exposed mineral soil, or even after light ground fire has
left a layer of ashes or charcoal. Heavy stocking, which occurs only under such conditions,
often amounts to 2,500 seedlings per square rod. Dense snowbrush common on
burns does not prevent growth of bigtree seedlings. Usually seeded before the brush
comes In, seedlings grow slowly through it. Thrifty sapling stands are frequent over
this brush. Seedlings grow rapidly in clearings, under full light, sometimes reaching
6 feet in as many years, the greater part of which is attained during the third and fourth
years. Such open-grown seedlings begin to branch vigorously from the first year, and
assume the characteristic pointed form of rapid growth.
Redwood.
Sequoia sempervirens (Lamb.) Endlicher.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS.
The dark cinnamon-brown, grayish tinged trunks of redwoods are more or less
buttressed at their bases and, as a result, are often marked with corresponding
rounded ridges and broad hollows. The trunk is full and round higher up, and
has a gradual taper throughout. Average large trees are from 190 to 280, sometimes
300, feet high, and from 8 to 12 feet or occasionally 12 or 15 feet in diameter.
Exceptionally large trees are 325 or 350 feet high and 18 or 20 feet in
diameter at a height of from 8 to 12 feet above the greatly swelled base. Old
trunks are clear of branches for 50 or 60 feet in open stands and for 80 or 100
or more feet in dense forests. The crowns of young trees from 10 to 15 inches
In diameter are narrowly conical, and extend nearly or quite to the ground. The
slender, short lower crown branches droop with a downward curve, while above
the middle the branches gradually trend more and more upward. On larger
trees in close stands the lower limbs are shaded out, leaving a very short, roundtopped
or sometimes a flat-topped crown. The few branches on such trees, now
long and thick, stand out rigidly from the trunk, drooping slightly-at the top
not at all-forming a very open head. Bark of old trunks is from 8 to 10 or
even 12 inches thick at the base of the trees, and it is very deeply and widely
furrowed and ridged. The leaves (fig. 57) are flat, sharp-pointed, stiff, of
unequal lengths (one-third inch to about 1 inch) on the same twig. On side
twigs of lower branches and on young saplings the leaves stand out in two
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