PLACE OF PARTIAL CUTTING IN OLD-GROWTH
Transcription
PLACE OF PARTIAL CUTTING IN OLD-GROWTH
PLACE OF PARTIAL CUTTING IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS OF THE DOUGLAS -FIR REGION Leo A . Isaac, Silvicultur is t U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station Portland, Oregon March 1956 Page . 1 .............. Regional average of results of partial cutting . . . Growth and mortality. f i r s t five years after logging . Growth and mortality. second five years after logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Growth and mortality for entire ten-year period after logging . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Growth of r e s e r v e t r e e s before and after partial cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Logging injury to the r e s e r v e stand . . . . . . . . . Purposeandscopeofthestudy Causes of loss and comparison with loss in undisturb- . West Central Oregon Cascade forests . . . . . . . . A two-age-class stand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Decadent old growth with a light understory . . . . Pureold.growthDouglas=-fir . . . . . . . . . . Thrifty middle-aged stand of pure Douglas-fir . . Results of partial cutting under specific stand conditions Summary of West Central Oregon Cascade forests ........... Ahigh.drysite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Northern Oregon Cascade forests A watershed cutting in overmature Douglas-fir ............. Northern Washington forests Old-growth Douglas - f i r with heavy mixture of cedar Old-growth Douglas -fir blowdown A two-story North Olympic blowdown Summary of northern Washington forests . . . O . . O . . . O O . . . .. . O . O ......... ....... ..... Page . 29 Douglas - f i r stand more than 500 years old in transition stage Temporary plot record of similar ad joining stand.. Effect of second cut on a similar adjoining stand Effect of third cut on a similar adjoining stand Summary of South Olympic a r e a s .................. ..................... . .. ......... Old-growth fog belt forests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The spruce-hemlock stand. . . . . . . . . . . . . Scattered old Douglas-fir and cedar with hemlockunderstary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scattered old Douglas -fir and spruce with hemlockunderstory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S u m m a r y of old-growth fog belt forests . . . . . . Young-growth fog belt forest with scattered old trees. . . . . . . O . . . . O . O . . . . O . . . . . Old-growth Douglas -fir with P o r t -Orford-cedar mixture ........................ ...... Summary and discuasian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Partial cutting in fringe types on severe sites Selected literature cited. ................. PLACE O F PARTIAL CUTTING IN OLD-GROWTH STANDS O F THE DOUGLAS -FIR REGION Leo A . Isaac INTRODUC TION During the e a r l y 193Qts, a s u s e of the logging truck and tractor increased, a form of partial harvesting mature and overmature v i r The cutting gin stands developed in the Douglas-fir region (2). pattern varied from taking a few scattered high-grade t r e e s per a c r e to c l e a r cutting small a r e a s . P a r t i a l harvesting caught on quickly because at that time only the high-grade t r e e s could be logged a t a reasonable margin of profit, This was a new procedure in the Douglas - f i r type, and its effect on the future stand was unknown (7). - Thinning and stand-improvement cuttings had long been accepted practices in young and thrifty stands of many f o r e s t types with intol* e r a n t species, including Douglas -fir (3). But in the 1930fs, the single-tree system of cutting was advocated for virgin f o r e s t s of mature or even decadent old-growth Douglas-fir virgin f o r e s t s with hemlock, true f i r s , and cedar in mixture and in understory. Sometimes these mixture species predominated. The system cannot be called a thinnihg in these overmature stands since thinning commonly applies to young, o r a t l e a s t thrifty stands. Neither can i t be called selection cutting, since t r u e selection cutting consists of harvesting the r i p e t r e e s from an all-aged f o r e s t of tolerant species withreproductioncontinuo~slyreplacingthe t r e e s c u t ( 1 ) . Since i t is neither a true thinning nor an individual t r e e selection cutting, the partial removal of t r e e s from the stand, when mentioned in this report, will be called partial cutting (4), - Original proponents of the system called i t selective timber management in the Douglas-fir region (5). It embodied successive light cuts taking out the better t r e e s mostly over 40 inches d. b. h. It a l s o assumed that s m a l l e r t r e e s would continue to move up into the l a r g e r diameter c l a s s e s , and that gradually an all-aged f o r e s t would develop. The system, a s originally described, made occasional reference to c l e a r cutting in s m a l l groups o r spots if s a t i s factory r e s tacking did not occur after s e v e r a l light tree-selection cuts. But the f i r s t stages of the cutting system did not turn out a s anticipated, and time had not permitted the l a t e r phases of the s y s tem to get beyond the "theory" stage before logging methods changed. This system was thought justified, f i r s t , by the high cost of constructing a road system into the a r e a s , and second, by prospects for a rising m a r k e t for the low-value elements of the stands, AS m a r k e t s and transportation improved, m o r e emphasis was given to removal of high-risk, inferior, and dead t r e e s as well a s the good t r e e s in the stand; but the cut still included only merchantable t r e e s from the Largest and oldest c l a s s , mostly Douglas-fir. Slash burning following partial cuts proved impractical, and i t soon became evident that cutting m o r e than a third of the stand would leave an intolerable s l a s h hazard and would magnify windfall r i s k . As partial cutting got under way i n the region, the upper l i m i t of cut became r a t h e r automatically s e t a t about one-third of the g r o s s volume--a few cuts were heavier, and many were lighter (4). . 1 9 PURPOSE AND SGQPE O F THE STUDY Although based largely on theory, the partial-cutting system quickly gained momentum and posed problems for which answers were not available. F o r one thing, a tree-selection system p r e supposes an all-aged forest, but i t was not known if partial cutting would bring about a n all-aged f o r e s t with Douglas - f i r in the stand. P e r h a p s partial cutting would speed up natural transition to a climax f o r e s t of m o r e tolerant but l e s s valuable species and eliminate the Douglas-fir. This transition takes place a s natural stands grow old in the absence of complete destruction of stands by fire, insects, o r d i s e a s e (4, 6). . . p 1 1 9 Then too, i t was not known i%overcrswded and overmature stands could be rejuvenated by partial cutting and growth of the r e s e r v e stand increased. And what effect would this type of cutting have on the kind and quality of m a t e r i a l produced? Some claimed that partial cutting would prolong the life of the remaining stands of old-growth Douglas -fir, extending the cutting period of high-grade c l e a r m a t e r i a l and plywood logs. Others claimed it would m o r e quickly skim the c r e a m af this m a t e r i a l from the oldogrowth stands . Much other information was needed, FOP example, could partial cutting be done on steep, rough topography? Also, how much logging damage would be done to reserve trees, and how wouId i t affect t r e e vigor and decay entrance ? Because conditions within thip fares t type are extremely variable, recommendations were needed to indicate the conditions under which partial cutting was or was not likely to succeed. Only field tests and demonstrations could supply all the wanted facts. Accordingly, a study was started in 1935 to record the effect of such partial cutting a s was being done on national-forest timber sales. Starting in advance of cutting, the study was designed to record, by species: The original stand, cut, logging breakage or injury, subsequent windfall, other mortality, and growth of the reserve stand; also change in stand composition, including incoming regeneration. The s ystern was recommended and applied to spruce-hemlock and upper slope mixtures as well a s to pure Douglas-fir stands. Therefore, study a r e a s were s e t up in the subtypes a s well as in the major type of the region. Sample plats were established from year to year a s cutting a r e a s became available, until 17 a r e a s had been sampled totaling 76 a c r e s of tagged, measured, and remeasured trees. Fifteen of the a r e a s w e r e in typical old-growth stands distributed from Darrington, Washington, on the north to Oakridge, Oregon in the south. An additional. graup was located in Port-Orford-cedar, and one, the seventeenth, in a two-aged spruce-hemlock stand in the fog belt from which many large, scattered, old-growth trees had previously been cut. Because it was impracticable to distribute a large number of small plots over a large timber-sale a r e a on the national forests without interfering with the operation, no effort was made to get a true random sample of entire cutting areas. Instead, a representatiare p a r t of an area was selected, and a solid block of sample plots with all trees tagged was put in. This concentration of plots minimized interference with logging operations. Existing timber-sale contracts made no provisions for leaving portions of a r e a s undisturbed; therefore, check a r e a s could not be s e t up for statistical comparison of growth and mortality in uncut and p a r t i d l y cut areas. Because of the design of the study, a statistical analysis was not m a d e for this report, Enstead, the a r e a s were treated as case studies, the pesults averaged, and general conclusions drawn from these averages. The stands varied in stand composition and condition and in age f r o m 150 to 600 y e a r s . Size of sample in a locality varied from t h r e e to fifteen 1 - a c r e plots; these were in one o r m o r e separate 3- to 6-acre blocks, If there was a marked difference in age o r stand s t r u c t u r e on p a r t s of a l a r g e a r e a in a locality, s e p a r a t e blocks of sample plots were put in. Douglas-fir was p r e s e n t on a l l but one a r e a , which had a Sitka spruce stand. The Douglas - f i r was even aged and usually in the oldest age c l a s s present. Some of the m o r e tolerant associates were equally old, but m o s t were younger and made up a well-developed understory. This understory was important in m o s t of the r e s e r v e stands a s it usually was not taken in the early cuts. All of the study a r e a s have had a 5-year remeasurement for growth and m o r e frequent mortality checks. Ten of the a r e a s have had the 10-year remeasurement. In addition, t h e r e is a record of a "second cutf1and a "third cutH on one a r e a , and on another the permanent plots were supplemented by temporary plots to give m o r e complete coverage. REGIONAL AVERAGE O F RESULTS O F PARTIAL CUTTING Although the stands varied in age, density, composition, and condition, 15 of the 17 study a r e a s w e r e sampled in a s i m i l a r mann e r and were sufficiently s i m i l a r otherwise to permit averaging for volume cut o r destroyed, mortality from windfall or other causes, logging injury, and growth. 1/ of stands varied from 93,000 to The g r o s s volume 177,000 board feet per a c r e , averaging 137,000 (tables 1 and 2). The cut varied from 17,000 to 86,000 board feet per a c r e , and averaged 50,000 o r 36 percent of the stand. 1/ The term "gross volumeFta s used in this r e p o r t means the total\olume of all living t r e e s with no deduction for decay o r other defect, Some decay was p r e s e n t in a l l stands and sometimes approached one-half of the stand volume, but there was no way to evaluate i t accurately in this study. All volumes a r e given in board feet Scribner r u l e , Table 1.--0rininal stand and out kith annual m r k l i t y , gross ~rowth. and net inoremnt durily: f i r s t five years in old-xrmrth Dou~las-fir stands. (Per-acre values are ~ i v e nin number of trees and Soribnsr volw--15 areas cornrising 64 aores4 Original stand Sample plot designation No. of trees - h r aore W i l l a x a t t a National Forast P.S.P. NO. 6 7 ; I w I Y t . h o d Natioaal Fomrt P.S.P. E ~ O , 6 7 8 9 Gross voluma - Bd. f t . per aore I Cut or destroyed No. of trees Per aore Gross volusle - Bd. f t . per acre Annual mortality and grosr growth Annual aat Mortality inorenrent Gross growth Vfindf a l l Other Gross No. of Gross Gross No. of Wo. of Gross No. of trees r o l u ~ ~ trees volums trees oolur~e tmes roluere - Psr aare Bd. ft. per aore Per aore 98,032 158,966 121,795 47,321 25.6 15.1 9.2 33.7 40,256 54,309 om& .06 0% 53.595 .06 .2O 205 837 382 37 89.3 92.733 26.7 16.3 12.3 6.0 3 l U 17,128 40.832 20,763 .32 .20 254 3% 10ea018 & 82.6 57.6 64.5 3 52.4 16.2 9.3 39W ---- 11 .58 .30 357 ---- @ .66 .06 5% 16 W -- Yt. Baker Iatlolul Pornst P.8.P. Ha. 2 137.3 We126 39.7 43,279 .B 3Wr .% Olympia lational Forest P.s.P. Mo. 17 18 19 84.9 58.0 53.2 157,301 102,588 127m 170,404 176.M 162,786 18.5 10.4 42.932 61,713 21,721 2.50 .80 -52 6,916 337 .& 659 .60 20 21 22, 23, a d dr Bd. Ft. per acre g$ 47.7 $2 12.0 2% 72,803 *Ira .56 .06 3,010 3.154 232 -- .& 2.08 .&I --- 371 Per acre Bd. f t . p r acm: Fbr acre 0.24 207 -0.38 .38 -.80 :z-- 34% --- g .10 93b -- --- 317 837 61r8 052 659 -- 1,172 501 517 435 - Bd. f t . per aam Par aore Bd. Pt. per aore 516 3 5 33.0 57,730 lOln358 80.47 209 d.8-3 SllrsT72 dco 63 301 59.0 62.0 45.0 n.0 &,0g2 77,085 121,616 90,218 194 93.6 66,816 83 031 40:630 104,827 -- 6609 - & - -26 -- 6.726 - - .& .10 - -- .60 -2.50 -72 .72 -80 -2.44 -6,- Reserve stnnd 5 years after outting Xo. of Gross trees mime ls9 53.9 44.0 170 -3,ml 16.2 22.6 781 32.0 -- - .7k -~r,sn - &.a 96,060 66,715 86,080 a b l e 2.--~&erve stand 5 and 10 years afWr eutti* annual mortality, pross ~rowth,and net increment. durinp second five years in old-growth Douglas-fir stands. (Per-acre values are niven in number of trees and Scribner voldine--10 areas comprising 47 acres.) I Salnple plot designation Reserve stand 5 years after cutting volurns - Second five years Annual mortality and gross ~ r a n t h Mortcility Growth: Windfall Other gross trees volume trees volume volume ---Per acre -- Bd. f t . per acre Per acre 57,176 102,123 92,l.b 0.44 9 52.7 36.3 62.0 .oB 13 • M t . Baker National Forest P.S.P. NO. 2 93.6 66,816 -70 80 1.30 53.9 k.0 44.2 22.6 24.8 33-5 83.031 40,630 ldcr827 96,060 66,715 82,521 661 &-0 79,503 Willamette National Forest P.S.P. MO. 6 7 I Bd. f t . per acre .46 132 0.14 1,619 .06 m I Olympia National Forest P.S.P. NO. 17 18 '19 20 21 22, 23, and & Weighted average 1/ 24 2.90 020 Per acre 2,615 3 a 1,033 230 Bd. f t . per acre trees Bd. f t , per acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre 5b.2 37.0 61.6 57,494 93,W 93,777 85-8 68,943 52.2 26.9 21.2 23.2 35.1 83,151 26,830 106,180 83,908 62,820 81,253 42.1 76,2Lr2 Per acre 267 0.30 64 .4 415 78 419 - .08 -1,805 3a M6 971 -1 .& 425 e l 4 102 -62 565 787 420 -3.02 u+ *& -08 r76 .& A6 627 A0 boS 0% -60 After the f i r s t 5 years there was some adjustment i n plot boundaries end numbered trees. seoond 5-year reoord do not always check with the l a s t 2 columns. 229 9eS 341 356 724 583 - *34 -028 -032 -32 -.38 Reserve stand 10 years aftur cutting vulume Bd. f t . per acre 71 1,738 409 905 702 .d, Annual net ino remnt - 24 -2,760 271 -2,430 779 -- 2% -652 46.2 For that reason, the f i r s t 2 columns in the Growth and Mortality, F i r s t Five Years After Logging Some a c r e plots of each study a r e a and 5 entire a r e a s of the 15 showed a net growth per a c r e for the 5-year period. Volume l o s s varied greatly between a r e a s . Annual growth of t r e e s alive a t the end of the f i r s t 5 y e a r s after cutting averaged 535 board feet p e r a c r e (table 1). But mortality from windfall and other causes on 10 a r e a s was SO g r e a t that total l o s s m o r e than offset growth. The average total mortality for all a r e a s was 1,689 board feet per a c r e p e r year. Hence, the 15 study a r e a s had a net l o s s of 1,154 board feet per a c r e per year for the f i r s t 5-year period after cutting. Heavy loss e s on three a r e a s raised the average severalfold. Growth and Mortality, Second Five Years After Logging Some a r e a s stabilized within the f i r s t 5 years following logging, but others did not (table 1). Records a r e available for the second 5-year period on 10 of the 15 a r e a s (table 2). Two of these 10 a r e a s showed a net gain for both the f i r s t and second 5-year periods, and an additional 3 a r e a s (making a total of 5) apparently stabilized and showed a net growth during the second 5-year period. The remaining 5 a r e a s continued to show a net l o s s . The only evidence that l o s s e s would eventually subside was the fact that m o r e a r e a s showed a net gain during the second period than during the f i r s t period. Annual growth of t r e e s alive a t the end of the second 5 years a f t e r cutting averaged 583 board feet per a c r e . On 10 a r e a s , the second 5-year record showed an average annual l o s s of 652 board feet per acre. Growth and Mortality for Entire T en-Y e a r Period After Logging The annual net l o s s for the f i r s t 5 years was 1, 154 board feet and f o r the second 5 years was 652 board feet, making a weighted average of 941 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year for the f i r s t 10 years a f t e r logging. The weighted average current growth r a t e of t r e e s that remained alive for the same period was 555 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year. 4/ If all mortality ceased (and there is no reason to believe that i t will), it would still take m o r e than 1 6 y e a r s a t the 2 / Since records for the s a m e number of: a r e a s were not a v a i z b l e for the f i r s t and second 5==yearperiods, weighted averages were used for 15 a r e a s in the f i r s t 5 years and 10 a r e a s in the second 5 y e a r s . current rate of gross increment to regain what was lost in the preceding 10 years. h other words, 26 years after cutting, the average of all stands would contain about the same volume of timber as they had when the first cutting operation was completed. The process is apparently something like this: After cutting, a few stands put on net volume growth from the beginning, some make no net growth, s o m e gradually lose volume, and others go to pieces entirely; the average after 10 years is still a net loss. Growth of Reserve Trees Before and After Partial Cutting All a r e a s showed gross growth after logging, but were individual t r e e s actually released by cutting, and was growth accelerated in the reserve stand? To answer these questions, 769 trees were increment bored on the areas listed in tables 1 and 2. Growth measurements were made for the 10 years before cutting and the 10 years after (table 3). Trees were selected at random in all size classes and from all species present. AS the age and size of the individual tree increased, response to cutting decreased. Douglas-fir usually belonged to the oldest age class, and about two-thirds of these trees showed either a decline in growth r a t e o r an unchanged r a t e after cutting. The same was true for Sitlca, spruce where i t was present. The reverse was true of hemlock, cedar, and silver f i r , which made up most of the trees in younger age classes and smaller diameters in the understory; about three-fifths of these trees showed accelerated growth. Of the 769 trees of all species, half showed increased growth, the other half a decreased or unchanged growth rate. Sometimes severe logging injury was the apparent cause of lack of accelerated growth; other times, i t was evident that the trees were not released by the cutting. And sometimes the trees appeared too overmature and decrepit to respond. It was not possible to correlate increased growth on individual trees with average growth per a c r e after cutting, but it was apparent from core measurements that acceleration in growth rate on half of the trees probably about compensated for the decline in growth rate on the rest. Windfall and other losses following cutting affected trees making accelerated growth and others alike, Table 3. --Effect of partial cutting on diameter growth-1 / of individual trees Species II I I1 Total trees Increased increment I diameter bored [ growth No change II Decreased diameter growth Douglas -fir 229 72 47 110 Western hemlock 3 54 214 31 109 Western redeedar 81 46 10 25 Silver fir 31 21 2 8 Sitka spruce 74 29 0 45 Total number 769 382 90 297 Percent of total 100 50 12 38 1 / Based on radial growth 10 years before and 10 years after cutting. determined by increment boring. Logging Injury to the Reserve Stand Logging injury to the r e s e r v e stand i s important not only because of the physical damage to the t r e e s , but because the s c a r s a r e p o r t s of entry for wood-decaying fungi. The nonresinous species, such as hemlock, t r u e firs, and to some extent Sitka spruce, a r e v e r y s u s ceptible to decay. Since they occur in the understory and in mixture with Douglas-fir in the region, logging injury to them i s of m o r e than usual significance (figures 1, 2, 3, and 4). A s e p a r a t e study of decay entrance in these species shows that 3 to 15 y e a r s after injury m o r e than 63 percent of the logging s c a r s had decay in them - ( 9 )* Injuries in this study consisted of broken tops and damage to the trunk, base, o r roots of the t r e e . Many t r e e s had m o r e than one type of injury. The injury to the r e s e r v e stands in the 15 a r e a s that a r e shown in table 1 varied from 17 to 50 percent, and averaged 3 4 percent of the t r e e s . Sometimes the injuries w e r e slight, but other times they were g r e a t enough to r e t a r d growth o r kill the t r e e . While the significance of a c c e l e r a t e d decay following logging injury was recognized, volume of decay was not calculated and m u s t be considered a s an undetermined amount over and above other l o s s e s shown in this report. Causes of L o s s and Comparison with L o s s in Undisturbed Stands L o s s e s w e r e not confined to any single species, crown c l a s s , o r locality. Because of variation in stand and exposure on the different a r e a s , no d i r e c t relationship was found between percent of cut and windfall 10s s e s . Windfall was the g r e a t e s t single cause of l o s s (tables 1 and 2). It happened a t a time when s i m i l a r l o s s e s were not occurring in nearby virgin stands, although some windfall in virgin stands had occurred e a r l i e r . In the f i r s t 5 y e a r s after logging, windfall l o s s e s on the plots were practically double the mortality from a l l other causes combined, Some l o s s occurred on 13 of the 15 a r e a s f o r which the f i r s t 5-year r e c o r d was available; the average annual windfall 10s s for the period was 1 , 099 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . Windfall l o s s e s declined in the second 5 y e a r s to 627 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year and about equalled mortality from other causes on 10 of the a r e a s where the second 5-year r e c o r d was available. T h e r e was some l o s s on all 10 of these a r e a s , In general, the F i g u r e 1. --Widely s c a t t e r z d old-growth Douglas -fir in a dense understory stand of hemlock and s i l v e r f i r just under comm e r c i a l s i z e . L a r g e t r e e s cannot be removed without s e r i o u s injury to r e s e r v e . They should not be cut until understory t r e e s r e a c h c o m m e r c i a l s i z e and injured t r e e s can be salvaged. (F.S. Photo 429812) Figure 2 . --Understory trees in this stand were mostly of good form and commercial s i z e . Injured trees were'cut and salvaged when large, old Douglas-firs we.re cut. (F.S. Photo 429807) F i g u r e 3. - - P a r t i a l cutting in this type of f o r e s t left i n the r e s e r v e stand decrepit, poorly f o r m e d , u n d e r s t o r y hemlock and decadent old-growth hemlock and Douglas -fir. (F S Photo 437585) .. F i g u r e 4. --Removing l a r g e t r e e s from a dense understory o r younggrowth stand cuts deep skidroads, t e a r s the roots and injures the b a s e of many r e s e r v e t r e e s . (F.S. Photo 429784) l o s s e s w e r e g r e a t e s t in the stands which had the heaviest original volume, but r e s u l t s a r e not entirely consistent (tables 1 and 2). Although actual m e a s u r e m e n t s a r e not available, it i s known that windfall l o s s e s have o c c u r r e d on these plots since the l o - y e a r period, to the extent that s e v e r a l a r e a s have had t o be c l e a r cut f o r salvage. The data r e v e a l no way to predict where windfall l o s s e s will s t r i k e , o r how to avoid them except possibly by lighter cuts. L o s s e s from c a u s e s other than windfall have remained s o m e what constant, about 600 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r throughout the 10-year period, and about equal the growth (555 board feet) of t r e e s left alive. Exact c a u s e s of these l o s s e s have been difficult to isolate and identify. Even b a r k beetle attack, the m o s t common cause, i s difficult to identify a s the p r i m a r y and only cause of mortality. B a r k beetle attack usually o c c u r r e d from 1 to 2 y e a r s a f t e r cutting, and was commonly m o s t s e v e r e when l a r g e chunks of unmerchantable m a t e r i a l w e r e left strewn over the f o r e s t floor. One group of plots n e a r Cushman Lake, Washington, showed a heavy l o s s from beetle attack. Logging injury, sunscald, and exposure a r e other causes that contributed to l o s s . Often no cause could be a s c r i b e d . As previously stated, a d i r e c t comparison of l o s s e s with and without p a r t i a l cutting was not obtained because i t was not feasible to establish check plots to m e a s u r e normal l o s s e s in uncut virgin s t a n d s . However, r e c o r d s of mortality in untouched, old-growth stands a r e available from other s o u r c e s . Sample plots in a declining 350-year-old Douglas-fir stand in the Wind River Natural A r e a showed a periodic annual mortality of 759 board feet p e r a c r e and a net growth of 8 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . This was f o r the 6-year period of 1947 to 1953, of which 1949 and 1951 w e r e s e v e r e windfall y e a r s (8). - During the 5-year period, 1948 to 1952, f o r e s t s u r v e y c r e w s in s e v e r a l counties of w e s t e r n Washington and Oregon estimated m o r tality occurring during 5 y e a r s previous to plot examinations. G r o s s growth of merchantable t r e e s was determined by increment borings on 169 1 / 5 - a c r e plots, and 5-year mortality was estimated on 1, 042 plots (table 4). This table, which gives r e s u l t s by age c l a s s e s starting with age 180, shows an a v e r a g e g r o s s growth of 500 board feet, a mortality of 345 board feet, and a net growth of 155 board feet (Scribner r u l e ) p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . - 3 / E x t r a c t from f o r e s t s u r v e y file r e c o r d s . Robert B. Pope. ~ a ~ i 9 5 5 . -15- Table 4. --Growth and mortality in undisturbed old-growth stands of the Douglas-fir region Age class, years 180 - 250 260 - 350 360t Uneven I Average lvol./acre bd, ft. I 52, 106 65, 128 117,48 1 47, 325 I G r o s s growth I Mortality I Net growth I bd. ft. / a c r e 1 bd. ft. / a c r e I bd. ft. / a c r e I p e r year 1 p e r y e a r I p e r year 516 410 740 43 1 280 351 616 248 236 345 155 59 124 183 - Average 75,212 500 F o r the purpose of comparison with study figures, these s u r v e y f i g u r e s may be considered a s a conservative e s t i m a t e of mortality and an optimistic e s t i m a t e of growth. This is t r u e because in the original stand e s t i m a t e the f o r e s t survey made a deduction for decay and considered only merchantable t r e e s , while the figures used in this study made no deduction f o r decay and do include totally cull but living t r e e s . The foregoing r e c o r d s of mortality in undisturbed stands show a net gain of 8 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r for the natural a r e a , and 155 board feet n e t gain for the survey estimate, compared with a weighted average annual volume l o s s in this study of 941 board feet p e r a c r e for the 10-year period following p a r t i a l cutting. On the basis of these comparisons t h e r e a p p e a r s to be evidence that partial cutting not only failed to r e s t o r e o v e r m a t u r e Douglas -fir stands to a condition of thrift, but resulted in significant l o s s . RESULTS O F PARTIAL CUTTING UNDER SPECIFIC STAND CONDITIONS The regional averages (tables 1, 2, and 3) show the effect of the treatment on the type a s a whole, but these averages often obscure many of the effects of partial cutting in certain stands. These m o r e detailed effects become apparent from the history of plots in a specific f o r e s t type, a stand condition, o r a locality, and show in m o r e detail the effect of partial cutting. Discussion of such r e c o r d s s u m marized by species for s i m i l a r types o r conditions follows: West Central Oregon Cascade F o r e s t s Four groups of sample plots located above Oakridge, Oregon, a r e Willamette National F o r e s t permanent sample plots NOS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 , representing four distinct stand conditions occurring in this general locality. Except for plot No. 9, they a r e typical of the m o r e decadent stands on the d r y s i t e s in the southern Oregon Cascades (table 5). A Two-Age-Class Stand P l o t No. 6 r e p r e s e n t s a Site IV stand of overmature old-growth Douglas -fir that was heavily burned s o m e 85 y e a r s ago. The stand was completely killed in some spots and partially killed in others. Some of the l a r g e s t openings regenerated to young Douglas -fir in the center and to hemlock and cedar around the edges. At the time of partial cutting these young Douglas -firs w e r e below merchantable size, and none were intentionally cut. T r e e s cut were all scattered old growth. Where the old stand had not been completely destroyed by f i r e 85 y e a r s ago, it was s o reduced in density that a heavy understory of hemlock and cedar had developed. Logging damage was heavy in this residual stand when selected l a r g e old-growth t r e e s were taken out. The s i t e was flat and d r y , and the hemlock that had developed as an understory was of very poor quality, often being of poor form and partially decadent before reaching m e r chantable size. The stand before cutting averaged 98,000 board f e e t g r o s s volume per a c r e , mostly in the l a r g e old-growth Douglas -firs. About 10 old-growth Douglas -fir t r e e s to the a c r e , with a total volume of 37, 000 board feet, w e r e cut in 1939. Sixteen hemlock and cedar t r e e s in the 10-inch diameter c l a s s with a volume of 3,000 board feet p e r a c r e were destroyed by the logging operation; i n addition, about 40 unrecorded t r e e s under Table 5.--Original stand pi cut, with annual mortality. ~ r o s s~rowth, and net ilacrsraent during f i r s t and second 5 years in West Central Oregon Cascade areas. (Per-acre values are niven by species in number of trees and Scribner volusle.) Original stand Plot location and species - millametto N. F. No. 6 ~ouglas-fi r Western hemlock Western redcedar Total Willanvette H. F. NO. 7 Douglas-f i r Western hemlook Western redcedar Total - - - Willemette 1. F. NO. 8 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Total W i l l ~ t t oN. F. NO. 9 - I -- F i r s t 5 years Annual m r t a l i t y and gross rrowth Mortality Gross growth Windfall Other No. of Gross Gross Io. of Gross ~ r o s a No. of trees volume trees volume trees volume volume Cut or destroyed I Gmss volume No. of trees per acre Bd. f t . p r acre Per rare 19.7 37.7 21.9 79.3 76.958 11.708 9.366 98 -032 9.7 6.7 9.2 P5.6 37,W 1,168 2.050 '22.0 26.7 3.7 5214 132,579 21,143 5.244 58.966 8.7 5.7 52,706 1,@6 117 54,309 3.0 lr6.2 605 121,795 Bd. f t . Per acre p r acre 7 15 .1 -9 .2 / I No. ef trees -39,498 Bd. St. per acre Per acre -- --- 0.6 A4 0,dr 0.04 11 11 .10 0.58 ---- ---- 0.06 0.06 0.06 79 79 .06 0.52 -- 266 8 0. % I I 274 Bd. f t . p r acre - - 10.5 30.0 12.2 52.7 9 205 -0.30 0.30 -382 -- --& 0 .4h 132 0.I.h 71 78&3 0.12 .34 993 626 0.06 ---- 415 9 lillemette N. F. No. 7 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Nestern redcedar . Total 3 21.0 2 .a 36.3 102.123 0.46 1.619 0.06 Willamstto N. F. No. 9 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redcedar Total 52.3 2.3 7.4 62.0 83,477 1,901 6.763 92. l k l ---- ---- 0.06 36 0.06 0.06 13 13 .a8 42 - -- -- A f h r the f i r s t 5 years, there was some adjustment i n plot boundaries end numbered trees. second -year record do not always agree with the l a s t 2 coluaols i n the f i r s t Fyear record above. Per sere 26 -0.a -20 -0.24 123 58 207 -0.38 -- 85 -0.06 -- -- 0.14 0.20 -- 332 0.a -36 a 0.a ---- u5 -- 78 No. of trees Bd. f t . psr acre 0.20 115 837 39,339 10,745 7.092 57.176 19,467 -- 8 99 Second Willamstto U. F. No. 6 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redoedar Total Per acre ARnual nat increment 0.04 0. 2 a -- .38 .I2 256 190 22 212 -0.80 -- -0.80 I Reserve stand 5 years after outting I Gross Gross volume No. of trees Bd. f t . per aare Per aare Bd. f t . per acre 9.8 30.0 12.0 51.8 4 O e W 13.0 20.0 2.4 78h 18 -- 2 -9 S O - 1 660 35.4 459 30.0 3 .O -1- 10,659 18,701 b.233 101,3g 79,401 676 80.0 n a4 33.o 25 31 8 11.0 29.7 13.5 54.2 39,463 l0,900 -1,403 12.0 71,406 -1.805 2. 7 -0 93.098 5 years ------ -- 34 160 73 267 0.a ---- 5 222 2 229 -0.20 ------- 347 33 9 4l9 -0.06 --- 026 .30 .08 *& 0.14 64 -9 - .Oa.06 - -0.08 For that reason, the f i r s t 2 ooluma i n the 311 33 16 328 52.0 2.6 7.9 85,030 2.04 6,683 61.6 93.a 10 inches in d i a m e t e r w e r e destroyed. Of a total of 52 t r e e s p e r a c r e in the r e s e r v e stand, 14 w e r e injured by logging and 38 w e r e uninjured. The 52 t r e e s had a total volume of 58, 000 board f e e t p e r a c r e . Windfall and some other mortality resulted in a net l o s s of about two s m a l l t r e e s p e r a c r e a t the end of 5 y e a r s (9 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r ) on this plot. During the second 5 y e a r s , growth r a t e increased slightly and mortality declined, s o that t h e r e was a net increment of 64 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r f o r this period. Young Douglas - f i r s in the stand that had come in after the f i r e of some 85 y e a r s ago w e r e tall, slender, and clean boled; a f t e r partial cutting t h e r e was s o m e l o s s among them continually from windfall o r snowbreak. The hemlock understory was mostly defec tive and of bad f o r m , and m o r e than one-fourth of the t r e e s w e r e injured in logging; they w e r e certainly undesirable a s a r e s e r v e stand. The cedar was thrifty and appeared to be an excellent r e s e r v e component, but within 2 y e a r s i t was heavily attacked by the western cedar b o r e r , , and those c e d a r s l a r g e enough had to be c u t f o r poles. - Except in concentrations of old-growth Douglas -fir and places where single old-growth t r e e s could be picked out without disturbance, this stand should have been left intact until understory t r e e s reached merchantable s i z e . Decadent Old Growth With a Light Understorv P l o t No. 7, a heavier stand on a slightly better s i t e , supported a stand of 159,000 board feet p e r a c r e g r o s s volume of highly defective old-growth, mostly Douglas - f i r . Nine l a r g e Douglas -fir t r e e s p e r a c r e w e r e cut, and about 6 s m a l l hemlock and cedar t r e e s p e r a c r e w e r e destroyed in logging; their combined volume was 54, 000 board f e e t . This stand was untouched by the f i r e that had burned plot No. 6. As a r e s u l t , the understory had no Douglas-firs and only a few hemlocks and c e d a r s of a younger age c l a s s . Growth of living t r e e s a t the end of the f i r s t 5-year period a f t e r cutting was 256 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r , but mortality from windfall and other c a u s e s was sufficiently g r e a t to show a l o s s of 660 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r for the period. In the next 5 y e a r s , the growth r a t e remained about the s a m e , but windfall increased sharply s o that the a r e a showed a net l o s s of 1,805 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year, Another distressing fact on this a r e a was the nature of the r e s e r v e stand. Mostly sound t r e e s were cut. The r e s e r v e stand of m o r e than 100,000 feet p e r a c r e was only 20 percent in completely sound trees, and about half of the volume was in completely cull t r e e s . Also, about a q u a r t e r of the r e s e r v e t r e e s w e r e injured, tending in time to increase the percent of cull. Even though individual t r e e mortality should decline o r ceas e entirely, decay will i n c r e a s e because of logging injury, and the stand will continue to go backward. It appears that this a r e a should have been c l e a r cut. P u r e Old-Growth Douglas - F i r P l o t No. 8 was s i m i l a r to plot No. 7, but was m o r e nearly pure Douglas-fir. Of an original stand of 122,000 board feet p e r a c r e , 9 t r e e s , about 39, 000 feet, w e r e cut. About a fifth of the r e s e r v e t r e e s were injured in logging. In the f i r s t 5-year period, growth on t r e e s left alive was slightly m o r e than 200 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r , but mortality from windfall and other causes m o r e than offset the growth. The net l o s s was 444 board feet p e r a c r e per y e a r . One of the 4 a c r e s -in this a r e a showed a slight gain, the other 3 showed substantial l o s s e s . The lO-year r e c o r d was not available. Thrifty Middle -Aged Stand of P u r e Douglas - F i r Plot No. 9 was in a m a t u r e but thrifty stand of Douglas-fir between 150 and 175 y e a r s old except for a few older wolf t r e e s . The stand was dense, the boles were well cleared, and the t r e e s showed no evidence of decay, but they were growing v e r y slowly. Gentle topography and favorable stand conditions offered an opportunity to make a partial cut that should have resulted in accelerated growth of high-quality material. on c l e a r boles in the r e s e r v e stand. C a r e was used in marking to leave good t r e e s well distributed over the a r e a , but the wolf t r e e s w e r e not taken because they were in l a r g e openings. Slightly m o r e than a third of the original stand of 147, 000 board feet p e r a c r e was removed in the cut. The reaction of this stand to partial cutting was disappointing, for growth continued to be slow after cutting. Bark sloughed off o r knocked off by logging caused d . b. h. measurements to show no diameter growth in the f i r s t 5 y e a r s . Increment borings, however, showed that growth accelerated slightly; the average annual d.b.h. growth before cutting was 0.04 inches, after cutting nearly 0.05. G r o s s growth was 308 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . The net growth was 209 feet, which i s low for this well-stocked Douglas-fir stand that had made rapid growth in e a r l i e r y e a r s . About a third of the t r e e s in the r e s e r v e stand were injured by logging. But injuries were slight and w e r e practically all on Douglas-fir, and for that reason were considered not v e r y damaging a s Douglas -fir is not highly subject to decay following injury. L o s s e s remained about the s a m e for the second 5-year period, but there was a slight i n c r e a s e in growth r a t e . The net growth p e r a c r e p e r year was 328 board feet--still far below the average annual growth (of 840 board feet p e r a c r e ) for the plot during the l i f e of the stand . Summary of West Central Oregon Cascade F o r e s t s All of these plots were on favorable topography. About a third of the stand was harvested (mostly from sound trees). A few t r e e s p e r a c r e in the s m a l l e r diameter c l a s s e s were killed and about a third of the r e s e r v e stand injured by logging. Even a f t e r cutting, all plots were still m o r e than fully stocked, although cutting made for a somewhat uneven spacing. One stand (plot No. 9) was middle aged, thrifty, and sound; the other three were overmature and decadent, one of these (plot No. 6) having patches of 85-year hemlock and Douglas - f i r and a well -developed under s tory. Five y e a r s after logging all three of the overmature a r e a s showed a l o s s in both number of t r e e s and volume. It amounted to m o r e than the c u r r e n t growth; in fact, t h e r e was an average net l o s s of 371 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . And this does not include p r o g r e s s of decay o r t r e e s killed by logging. L o s s e s continued during the 5- to lo-year period after logging. T h e r e i s no indication that l o s s e s had subsided, but even if they had, i t will take many y e a r s 1 growth to regain the volume already l o s t . The thrifty, middle -aged stand was confidently expected to respond to a partial cut, but the acceleration of growth was d i s appointingly slight. Since the r e s e r v e stand i s s t i l l heavily stocked, it i s probable that a second cut will be n e c e s s a r y to produce any substantial i n c r e a s e in growth. But this plot did show a net increment and v e r y little l o s s from windfall o r other causes. Stands of this nature, where growth is on c l e a r boles of sound t r e e s , may offer r e a l p r o m i s e for a partial o r r e l e a s e cutting, o r may even be windfirm enough to allow a regeneration cut before a final o r h a r v e s t cut is made. However, there was already considerable brush development that would hamper restocking. Northern Oregon Cascade F o r e s t s Two groups of sample plots representing different conditions w e r e established on each of two different localities on the Mt, Hood National F o r e s t (table 6 ) . One group, plots 6 and 7, was n e a r Parkdale on a d r y s i t e e a s t of the Cascade summit and n e a r the transition zone from Douglas-fir to ponderosa pine. The other group, plots 8 and 9, was on Clear C r e e k on the west slope of M t . Hood in a m o r e typical west-side forest. A High, Dry Site The east-side stand was between 150 and 175 y e a r s old and comparatively sound, but for some time, t r e e s had been dying h e r e and t h e r e from insect attack, drought, o r some other cause. P l o t 6 had an original g r o s s volume of 93,000 board feet p e r a c r e , almost entirely Douglas - f i r , f r o m which about one-third was cut o r destroyed in logging. About 29 percent of the r e s e r v e t r e e s sustained logging injuries. An effort was made on this a r e a to m a r k the low-vigor and badly formed t r e e s for cutting. Growth was about 370 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r , but mortality from windfall and other causes was sufficient to offset growth and cause a net l o s s of 240 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year for the 5,year period. Plot 7 was s i m i l a r to plot 6 except that i t contained a heavier mixture of grand f i r . It was given a much lighter cut, 17, 000 feet, o r 18 percent of the g r o s s volume of 94,000 board feet p e r a c r e . Growth on this plot amounted to 680 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . But mortality nearly offset this good growth r a t e . The %year period ended with a net gain of 63 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . Spot burning for brush disposal was responsible for some of the mortality. Brush burning injury plus logging damage to the living r e s e r v e brought the injury figure up to 49 percent of the t r e e s . At the time of cutting, the stand on both plots showed evidence of low vigor with dead and dying t r e e s . It was hoped the cut would salvage these dead and dying t r e e s and r e s t o r e the stand to a thrifty condition. The plots had an average r e s e r v e stand of nearly 70,000 board feet p e r a c r e . The r e s e r v e t r e e s did appear m o r e healthy a t the end of 5 y e a r s , but mortality had not ceased, and the extremely slow diameter growth had accelerated s o little (0.003 inch) that it was hardly measurable. L a t e r cuts may r e s u l t in accelerated growth. Visible benefits from this cut were Table 6.--Original stand and cut. with annual mortality. cross growth. and net increment during f i r s t 5 years in Northern Oregon Cascade areas. (Per-acre values are given by species i n number of trees and Soribner mlume.) Plot location and species Originnl stand No. of trees Gross volume -~ t ~.o o dH. F. - No. I N M t . Hood N. F. Total 7 - lo. ~ouglas-fir Grand f i r Total Y t . Hood ti. F. - Ho. 8 hugha-f ir Western hemlock Western redoedar Silver f i r Total - Bd. f t . per acre 88.0 1.3 89.3 No. of trees Gross volume First 5 years Annual mortality and gross growth Mortality Gross growth Windfall Other Gross Gross No. of No. of Gross Ho. oP trees volume volume volume trees trees ---- -Per aore Bd. f t . per acre Per aore Bd. f t . per acre Per acre 91,602 1.131 9233 26.7 -26.7 31.40 -31.LJ.10 0.26 217 0.40 0.32 357 0.40 254 -- 69 O&O ---- --------- 6 Douglas-fir Grand f i r W I Per aore Cut or destroyed M t . Hood N. F. No. 9 Douglas-fir western hemlock Western redoedar Silver f i r Western white pine ~0ta1 .06 74.3 8k,li(l 16.3 17.128 0.20 82.6 93,898 16.3 17.128 0.20 17.3 88,962 6.3 2.3 07 3 .O 12.3 32,363 6,445 1,663 361 40.832 5.0 .5 1.0 1.5 17,888 8.0 20,769 . 8.3 26.6 9.427 5q.s~~ 1 12.3 57.6 7,353 160,945 12.5 31.5 2.0 37.0 1.5 84.5 39,469 52,815 2,890 10,683 2.161 ioa.oi8 -- -- -- leW l,7oB -- 46 ------------ -- --69 -------- -- -- Bd. f t r per acre -- 254 Per acre --- ----- 26 171 381 0.66 552 ---- ---- 0.06 0.06 16 16 -------- ------ ------ ----- -- ----- -- -- ---- -- -- 0.10 0.10 Annual net increnmnt Reserve stand 5 years after cutting Gross No. of trees volume No. of trees Gross volume Per acre Bd. f t . per acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre -0.66 -109 58 .O 59,618 371 - 0 " -0.72 -%L--->-*2--+4 0 59 .O 558 126 -0.60 .26 -0 -86 318 -255 63 Bd. f t . per acre 362 9 684 121 129 25 317 139 317 -.. 128 10 594 - --- -- -0.06 -0.06 ---- -0.10 -0.10 - 121 125 26 301 139 317 -- 128 10 594 55.0 7.0 62 .O 11.0 68,935 8.150 77.085 .7 9.0 45.0 57,202 %mm6 5,817 b.511 121.616' 7.5 3 1.O 36.0 1.5 77.0 22.277 53,371 1,180 11.177 2.213 90,218 &*J the harvesting of the dead and dying t r e e s and the leaving of clear boles for the addition of new growth. The crowns were not dense, and i t was hoped that Douglas-fir regeneration would follow this cut. Some Douglas -fir seedlings did occur in the l a r g e s t openings, but they a r e low in vigor. There is, however, a thrifty stand of grand fir and brush coming in. They will probably gain possession of the understory. A Watershed Gutting: in Overmature Douglas - F i r Plots 8 and 9 (table 6) differed from all other a r e a s studied in that they were in an auxiliary watershed for the City of Portland water supply in the Bull Run Division of the Mt. Hood National Forest. F o r that reason, the objective in marking was different from that on other cuttings, and m o r e c a r e was taken in the logging operation s o a s to minimize watershed disturbance. The cutting was light, and only such t r e e s were taken a s would not greatly break the crown canopy o r cause a heavy accumulation of slash on the forest floor. Plot No. 8 consisted of a heavy, old-growth stand of Douglasfir and hemlock with a light mixture of Pacific silver f i r and cedar. T r e e s were mostly large. The original stand had a total of 161,000 board feet per a c r e , from which 41,000 were removed. Logging injured 38 percent of the r e s e r v e stand. But windfall and other mortality for the f i r s t 5-year period were practically negligible. G r o s s growth of living t r e e s amounted to 300 board feet p e r a c r e per year for the period. Plot 9 was p a r t of the s a m e general stand. But there, many of the large, old t r e e s had disappeared from various causes years ago and had been replaced by small understory hemlock and other tolerant species. Hemlock predominated before cutting; and because mostly Douglas-fir was cut, Douglas - f i r made up l e s s than onefourth of the stand after cutting. Of the 108,000 boar4 f e e t per a c r e in the original stand, 21,000, o r 19 percent, were cut. A third of the r e s e r v e stand sustained some injury during logging. Growth on this plot was practically double that on the previous one, probably because of the small number of l a r g e old t r e e s and high number of young tolerant t r e e s in the lower diameter classes. It amounted to nearly 600 board feet per a c r e per year during the 5-year period. There was no windfall or other mortality on the plot during this 5-year period. Both plots 8 and 9 showed a net gain for the f i r s t 5 y e a r s after logging, and the lowest mortality of any of the 15 a r e a s studied. However, no deduction was made for the living decadent t r e e s i n the stand o r f o r the a c c e l e r a t i ~ nof decay that will r e s u l t from the logging injury sustained ( 9 % . This c u r r e n t decay will greatly reduce the annual g r o s s growth &own for these plots. The aim of this cutting was to harvest p a r t of the crop with the l e a s t possible watershed disturbance o r i n c r e a s e in f i r e hazard. F o r example, l a r g e defective hemlocks with big bushy crowns were not taken. Inferior t r e e s were taken only if their crowns were small, and they could be removed without g r e a t disturbance. Although light successive cuts of this nature may not favor maximum timber production, the operation does indicate that they a r e feasible in this timber and soil type, if watershed protection i s the p r i m a r y objective. If the cuts were repeated, the Douglas -fir would soon be eliminated from the stand. The older and m o r e overmature hemlocks and other tolerant species would die o r be cut next. If natural succession were not interrupted by windfall o r some other catastrophe, a climax f o r e s t of hemlock, cedar, and silver f i r should develop, which should be satisfactory for watershed purposes ( 5 ) . - Northern Washington F o r e s t s Old-Growth Douglas -Fir With Heavv Mixture of Cedar One a r e a studied (Mt. Baker permanent sample plot 2) l i e s on Dan's C r e e k above Darrington, Washington. It is typical of the overmature stands of Douglas-fir in the middle elevations of the northern Cascades, except that i t had m o r e than the usual amount of western redcedar a t the time of cutting. It consisted of v e r y l a r g e , scattered, old-growth Douglas -fir and cedar t r e e s with a well-developed understory of western hemlock, s i l v e r f i r , and w e s t e ~ nredcedar in a l l age c l a s s e s . The purpose of the cut was to remove the old overmature Douglas - f i r s and c e d a r s and leave the understory of hemlock, cedar, and silver f i r for further growth and l a t e r cutting. The original f o r e s t had a volume of l O 9 , O O Q board feet per a c r e from which 43,000 feet, o r 40 percent of the g r o s s volume, were removed by the cut (table 71. During the f i r s t 5 y e a r s after logging, g r o s s growth averaged 837 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year on t r e e s alive a t the end of the period. But l o s s e s from windfall and other causes w e r e g r e a t Table 7.--Ori~irml stand and cut with annual mortality, gross ~rowth, and net increment during f i r s t end second 5 years in northern Washington areas. (Per-acre values are ~ i v e n by species i n number of trees and Scribner vollunes.) 1 F i r s t 5 years Annual mortality and Eras6 growth Mortality Gross grodh Windfall Other Gross No. of Gross Gross No. of No. of volume trees volum trees volume trees Cut or destroyed Orieinal stand Plot location and species No. of trees Gross volume No. of trees Gross volume Per acre Bd. f t . per acre Per acre Ed. f t . per acre 2.2 87.5 27.2 20 J+ 137.3 25,552 17,774 58,4!% 7.3M 109.126 1.7 25.8 6.2 6.0 39.7 21.490 2,356 17,695 1.738 43.279 Olympia N. F. No. 17 Douglas-fir western hemlock Western redoedar Total 34.2 19.2 31.5 84.9 119,740 22,096 15.465 157.301 10.2 3.8 5 18.5 34,030 5,922 2.980 42.932 .a6 2.50 Olympic N. F. No. 18 Douglas-fir western hemlock Western redcedar Silver f i r Total 0.7 39.0 8.3 10.0 58.0 9,910 32,334 51,819 8.525 102.588 0.5 2 5.2 5 10.4 9,750 2,365 49,271 327 61.713 0.64 .06 .10 0.80 -- -- -M t . Baker N. F. -No. 2 Douglas-fir %stern hemlock Western redoedar Silver f i r Tote 1 - - 1 I I I M t . Baker N. F. - N O . 2 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redcedar Silver fir Total Reserve stand 5 years after cuttinp. j Per acre O.lL .10 -- --28 -- Ed. f t . per acre Per acre -- -- ---- 230 -- 316 0 .21r ?W1 0.56 299 ---- .44 5,34 557 1.018 6.916 --- --- ---- 1.20 -- -- -- 261 11 9 ------ -- --- i?m - Per acre -0J.h -.I2 837 -0 .80 353 210 85 -1.20 -- 648 .e6 -2.50 . 8 k10 -0.60 0 2% 0.44 371 0.52 60 181 Bd. f t . par acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre 85 1% 0.5 59.5 20.4 13.2 93.6 4,074 15.956 h0,751( 6.032 66.816 4,988 347 933 -6.268 18.0 13.2 22.7 53.9 60,768 lh.443 7.820 83.03& 8 71 49 35 lr9 0.2 31.8 3.0 9.0 44.0 200 S,610 2,79b 8.026 . 40,s -- 3 365 375 ---- -151 0.20 65 337 60 Ed. f t . per acre ab-4 -- - - .lo .02 -0.72 I - 3 107 1 --- I Reserve s tend 10 years after cutting Second 5 years -- 4,074 15,956 40,7% 6.032 66.816 Olympic N. F. NO. 17 Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redcedar Tots 1 18.0 13.2 22.7 53.9 60,768 &,&3 7,820 83.031 0.10 No. 18 Olympic N. F. Douglas-fir Western herdock Western redcedar Silver f i r Total 0.2 31.8 3.0 9.0 44.0 200 29,610 2,794 8.026 40,630 0.a 2.56 .10 .20 2.90 - Per acre 0.30 .02 0.5 59.5 20.4 13.2 93.6 - Bd. f t . z e r acre 0.50 *a .16 0.70 *& .10 0.24 --57 -23 -- 1.12 -- 320 80 431 167 63 -- 0.10 0.lb 40 2.259 143 173 2,615 0.; .& 0.62 -- 100 2 102 -- 370 43 152 565 Reserve stand 5 years a f t e r cutting Gross No. of volume trees _Annual net increment No. of Gross trees volume ------ ---- ----------- 9 296 --1.32 - .a -Ooo2 971 -1.9 446 -0.10 220 121 787 -0.34 -- 2 4 83 123 ll20 -- .lk .lo -0.a -2.64 .lo -o.& -3.02 - 9 81 47 425 15 k 24 --2,k1540 -- 103 202 -2,760 0.5 52.9 20.3 12.2 85.9 4,120 15.552 43.473 17.5 12.7 22.0 52.2 60,&'7 14.209 8.095 83.151 68.943 -- -- 18.6 3.5 6.8 28.9 17,532 2,280 7.018 26,830 enough to reduce the annual growth to a net gain of 194 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . Growth during the second 5-year period was somewhat g r e a t e r . L o s s e s from windfall declined subs tantially and f r o m other causes increased slightly, resulting in a net gain of 425 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . This is one of the 2 a r e a s wut of a total of 10 that showed a net gain for both the f i r s t and second 5-year period after logging. The average for the 10-year period amounts to a net gain of 310 board feet p e r a c r e per y e a r . The sample a r e a consisted of a block of s i x 1-acre plots located in the center of a well-protected, moderately steep slope. Growth varied within this a r e a ; 4 of the 6 a c r e s showed a net gain a t the end of the period, the other 2 a l o s s . In stand composition, topography, and treatment, the sample plot was typical of this l a r g e , partially cut stand, but i t appeared to be exceptionally well protected from wind. Considerable windfall l o s s was sustained in p a r t s of the stand outside the plot boundaries. But windfall l o s s e s w e r e relatively low on the plot. The discrepancy illustrates the chance of e r r o r in using a single, l a r g e sample. Several welldistributed small samples would probably have shown the windfall loss, Old-Growth Douglas - F i r Blowdown The northern Washington a r e a (Olympic permanent sample plot 17) was located n e a r Cushman Lake, above Hoodsport. This a r e a supported a typical, heavy, old-growth stand of Douglas-fir with a light mixture of western hemlock and western r e d c e d a r . It had a total g r o s s volume of 157,000 board feet p e r a c r e (table 7). Much of the hemlock and cedar was in the understory and was under o r just approaching merchantable size. Windfall had taken much of the old stand and some of the younger under story. Cutting was planned to salvage the windfallen m a t e r i a l and to take out enough of the live residual stand to make the operation profitable. The cut amounted to 27 percent by volume of standing t r e e s . Because of the tangled condition of the stand resulting from windfall, logging destroyed an estimated 2,000 f e e t o r m o r e to the a c r e . Breakage and excessive decay in the l a r g e , old t r e e s caused many heavy chunks of broken logs and tops to be l e f t on the ground, This d e b r i s was ideal for development of a l a r g e b a r k beetle population, and beetles caused heavy l o s s e s i n the residual stand during logging and the f i r s t couple of y e a r s thereafter. This unusual s e t of conditions resulted in the heaviest beetle and windfall l o s s experienced on any study a r e a . By the time the 5-year examination was made, some beetle-killed timber had been blown down, and some dead standing and down timber had been salvaged. Therefore, l o s s e s could not be segregated, and a l l w e r e listed a s windfall in the table. Growth on live t r e e s during the f i r s t 5 y e a r s after cutting was m o r e than 600 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . But the net l o s s during the period amounted to 6 , 2 6 8 board feet per a c r e p e r y e a r . During the second 5-year period, l o s s e s from a l l causes declined, and growth increased slightly (to 787 board feet). Nevertheless, l o s s e s were heavy enough that net growth was only 2 4 boafd feet per a c r e p e r y e a r . The total net l o s s on this a r e a during the 10-year period since logging amounted to 3, 122 board f e e t per a c r e per y e a r . If a l l l o s s e s ceased, this a r e a would still have to grow 1,000 board feet per a c r e per year for the next 31 y e a r s to r e s t o r e the volume it contained in the residual stand when the cutting operation was complete. A Two-Story North Olympic Blowdown One a r e a (Olympic permanent sample plot 18) was located on Salmon Creek above Blyn, Washington, on the north slope of the Olympics. This a r e a consisted of an overmature stand of widely scattered, l a r g e , old Douglas-fir and cedar with a well-developed understory consisting mostly of hemlock and Pacific silver fir. It i s typical of the mixed f o r e s t on the northwest slopes of the Olympic Peninsula, L a r g e t r e e s had been falling intermittently an this a r e a for many y e a r s , and after one heavier than usual windfall in the e a r l y 1 9 3 0 ' ~salvage ~ cutting was planned for the a r e a . The plan was to take out salvable windfalls and p a r t of the r e s e r v e stand. The understory stand on this t r a c t was sufficient to make a wellstocked, new f o r e s t provided the logging would not seriously damage the r e s e r v e stand o r open i t enough to a c c e l e r a t e windfall. The windfalls and about one-half of the living t r e e s , l a r g e and small, were removed, Growth was about 650 board feet p e r a c r e per y e a r on the t r e e s alive 5 y e a r s a f t e r c,utting, But l o s s e s from windfall and other mortality during this period m o r e than offset the growth. The r e s u l t was an annual net l o s s of approximately 50 board feet p e r a c r e for the period, Unlike most study a r e a s , this stand did not tend to stabilize and show a reduction in mortality during the second 5-year period. G r o s s growth was about 400 board feet per a c r e per year on the r e s e r v e t r e e s that remained alive, But the losses, mostly from windfall, were sufficiently g r e a t to show a net l o s s of 2,760 board feet per a c r e per year for the second 5-year period. The net l o s s f o r 10 y e a r s after logging amounted to 1,405 board feet per a c r e p e r year. The total l o s s amounted to nearly half of the total r e s e r v e a f t e r logging. The stand on p a r t of the sample plots had been practically blown flat just before the 10-year examination was made in the fall of 1946. Shortly thereafter, the a r e a a s a whole was in such a tangled m a s s that a salvage clear cut was necessary. Like the Cushman plot, this a r e a indicates that where windfall l o s s e s have occurred, they a r e likely to continue. It would have been better forest management to clear cut this a r e a in the beginning, sacrificing some of the under sized and otherwise unmerchantable material. It had to be c l e a r cut eventually. Summary of Northern Washington F o r e s t s The three a r e a s in this group a r e all heavy old stands with welldeveloped understories of tolerant species. The Mt. Baker a r e a was on a well-protected slope and had sustained no recent unusual windfall o r other losses. It survived a partial cut without abnormal l o s s and made a net growth in the 10 succeeding y e a r s . Successive cuts of this nature may permit many understory t r e e s to reach a better merchantable size, but in the meantime, the average annual net growth for this a r e a is not m o r e than a third of what it should be on this site. The Cushman Lake and Salmon Creek stands were sustaining heavy windfall l o s s e s before cutting. These two operations demonstrated that a salvage cut in stands of this nature, taking out windfall and other susceptible t r e e s , did not stabilize the stands. L o s s e s f r o m windfall and other causes probably will continue a t an accelerated pace until the stand is destroyed if not cut. South Olympic F o r e s t s The south Olympic a r e a s had stands somewhat older than the others; in addition, some temporary plot work was done in the locality to supplement permanent sample-plot findings. F o r that reason, the permanent plots a r e summarized jointly (table 8). Table 8 . - - 0 r i ~ i n a l stand and cut with annual mortality, gross growth, and net increment during f i r s t and second 5 years i n South Olympic area. (per-acre values a r c given by species i n number of t r e e s and Scribner volume.) Cut or destroyed Original stand Plot location and species No. of trees Gross volume -W I o I No. of trees Gross volume F i r s t 5 years Annual mortality and aross growth l o r t a l i ty Growth: Windfall Other Gross No. of Gross No. of Gross volume trees volluae trees ~ & @ 3 Per acre Bd. f t . p e r acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre Per acre Bd. f t . p e r acre 7.6 38.8 1.3 47.7 99,458 4.7 7.2 .1 12.0 64,671 8,120 12 72.803 O.W 181 51 - o i p ~ p i cN. F. NOS. 22,23,& - Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redcedar Total %,9& 8,366 162.786 u I I .& -0.06 -232 Per acre Bd. f t . p e r acre -- -0.68 0.68 - Olympic N. F. Nor. 22,23,24 ~ouglas-fir Western hemlock Wes tern redcedar Total after cuttim 2.6 29.7 1.2 33.5 30,355 43,670 8.496 82.521 1 -- 984 -984 - Per acre 14 -0.02 -72 435 I [ Bd. f t . per acre 396 25 Reserve stand 5 years a f t e r cutting No. of ~ros; trees volume Annua 1 n e t increment No. of Gross trees volume - --0.74 Bd. f t . per acre Per acre -167 -639 25 -781 I 2.8 Bd. f t . per acre 33,951 28.0 43,649 1.2 32.0 8,480 86.080 I Second I - I- 5 years 1 I 0.02 .ob -- 0.08 221 55 -276 -- -- O*& 0.24 -- - 82 702 -- 8 03 702 724 ~k the end of the f i r s t 5-year period, there was some adjustment i n plot boundaries and numbered t r e e s . account6 f o r the difference i n the reserve stand a t the end of the f i r s t 5 years and the beginning of the second. This f a c t -0.02 - -34 -- -0.32 -303 46 3 -254 afte; c u t t i n g 2.5 31.4 1.2 35.1 26,841 43.900 8.512 81.253 Douglas-Fir Stand More Than 500 Years Old in Transition Stage Each of these three groups of sample plots (Olympic permanent sample plots 22, 23, and 24) represented somewhat different conditions before cutting, but they were sufficiently similar to permit averaging. The plots a r e located on the south slopes of the Olympic Mountains in an a r e a of high rainfall and a good site. The virgin forest h e r e was old--for the most p a r t m o r e than 500 y e a r s . Douglas-fir t r e e s remaining from this old forest were very large and, for their age, were comparatively sound. Tolerant cedar and hemlock had come in and made up an understory a s the oLd, intolerant Douglas-firs died ( 6 ) . The 3 groups of sample plots, embracing a total of 10 separate 1-acre plots, had an average g r o s s volume before cutting of 163, 000 board feet p e r a c r e (table 8). Forty-five percent, o r 73, (900board feet, was taken out, u s u d l y the l a r g e s t and best trees that were often m o r e than 60 inches in diameter. In the process of logging, m o r e than half of the r e s e r v e stand received some logging injury a t the base, bole, o r crown, and sometimes in m o r e than one place on the s a m e t r e e . Growth of living t r e e s during t h e 5 y e a r s after the cutting operation amounted to 435 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year. This is a low growth r a t e for a high site, but is understandable when the age of the stand (500 years) and the density of the r e s e r v e a r e considered. After cutting, the stand was 90,000 board feet to the a c r e . Mortality was light from windfall 10s s , but heavier from other causes in the f i r s t 5 years a f t e r logging. Eight of the 10 a c r e s showed a net l o s s a t 5 years. The mortality averaged 1,216 board feet per a c r e p e r year for this period. It was sufficiently high to offset the growth and cause a net l o s s of 781 board feet p e r a c r e per year. Growth increased frorn 435 board feet in the f i r s t 5-year period to 724 board feet per a c r e per year in the second. Yet current mortality was sufficient in the second 5-year period to r e s u l t in a net l o s s of 254 board feet per a c r e per year. In future years, mortality resulting frorn logging injury and exposure might be expected to decline o r to cease altogether, but l o s s e s from windfall and other causes a r e rather certain to continue. The average annual net l o s s was .517board feet per a c r e per year for the f i r s t 10 y e a r s after cutting. No record is available of losses in natural uncut stands of this character in the immediate locality; therefore, i t is impossible to evaluate accurately this loss. However, the l o s s positively establishes the fact that the partial cut in this stand did not restore it to a thrifty growing condition that would result in an annual volume increase. These permanent sample plots were located on one of the larger national-forest timber -sale areaa. To determine if they were representative of the a r e a a s a whole as to percent of cut, injury, and losses, additional strip surveys were run in several other parts of the a r e a . Also, temporary plote were established on parts of the a r e a to measure the effect of a second and third cut. These temporary plot records were summarized but a r e not presented in tabular form. T ernporary Plot Record of Similar Adjoining Stand A summary of the strips on the a r e a that had been once cut over showed that an average of one-fourth of the volume was removed from an original stand of 96,000 board feet per acre. Included in the amount cut were a few trees that were destroyed by logging. The cutting left a reserve stand of 69,000 feet gross volume per acre, 47,000 of .which were hemlock, mostly understory. The uncut Douglas - f i r waa fairly sound, but the hemlock was not. It was estimated that the hemlock was more than 25 percent defective (by volurqe). Thirty-five percent of the reserve stand received some s o r t of logging injury. Some of these injured trees were already decadent, and some of the uninjured reserve trees were also decadent. It was estimated that only about 50 percent of the volume of the reserve stand was in trees that were free from both logging injury and decay, The a r e a s were cut in 1940 and r e examined in 1944. During this 4-year period of time, mortality averaged four trees per a c r e , mostly hemlock. This resulted in a net periodic loss of 2,600 board feet per acre, o r about 650 board feet per a c r e per year. Although these strip surveys were in somewhat lighter stands with a higher percentage of hemlock, they indicate that cut, injury, and losses on the r e s t of the partially cut area were quite similar to those reported on the three permanent sample plots. The permanent sample plots may therefore be considered valid samples . Effect of Second Cut on a Similar Adjoining Stand In order to measure the effect of a later cut on these stande, one part of the tract. This was done in 1944. The original cut was made in 1939. The amount taken out in the first and second cuts plus a the timber-sale administrators decided to make a second cut an small amount destroyed by the logging operation amounted to approximately 40 percent of an original stand of 86,000 board feet per acre. Mortality for the 5-year period was approximately 1,000 board feet per a c r e per year. The skidding on this a r e a was done primarily by tractors. On a few steeper localities, logs were hauled on a contour by tractors to a high line and taken out by the high line. Therefore, most of the logging injury resulted from the skidding by tractors. Originally, i t was anticipated that trees injured in the f i r s t eut could be removed in the second cut. It was expected that because the forest would be more open, the second cut would result in l e s s injury than the first. However, this did not work out in practice, Many of the injured trees were below merchantable size, and no additional trees could be removed from this heavy, oldgrowth forest without additional injury to the reserve. A t the end of the f i r s t cut, 35 percent of the reserve stand was injured. Although a s many of these injured trees a s possible were taken out, after the second cut 54 percent of the remaining trees showed logging injury when the operation was completed. It was estimated that 16 percent of the uninjured reserve trees had some decay and that a similar percentage of the injured trees had decay in addition to the logging injury. The second cut, then, left a reserve stand of about 50,000 board feet per acre, only 30 percent of which was in sound, uninjured trees. Effect of Third Cut on a Similar Adioinine: Stand To give further information on the effect of successive cuts in a heavy stand of this nature, it w a s decided to make a third cut on one a r e a immediately after the second cut was completed. Normally, a third cut would have been deferred several years. This a r e a had an original stand of 92,000 board feet per acre, oneseventh of which was old-growth Douglas -fir in large trees. A quarter of the stand had been removed 5 years previously in a f i r s t cut. The equivalent of two more quarters was removed in the second and third cuts, taking out a total of 68,000 feet, o r approximately 74 percent of the stand. The recorded mortality during the f i r s t 5-year period, plus a few trees killed in logging, amounted to 4,800 board feet per acre, o r more than 900 board feet per a c r e per year. When the third cut was finished, practically all trees more than 20 inches in diameter were gone, including all Douglas-firs. This left a reserve stand of 36 live trees per acre, 86 percent injured or defective, or both. It was anticipated that reproduction would become established after early cuts, though perhaps of the l e s s desirable, tolerant species. But a dense forest of l a r g e t r e e s is greatly disturbed by logging, and most of the reproduction that became established on this a r e a after the f i r s t cut was destroyed o r injured by the second o r third cuts. A record of surface conditions showed that in the 3 operations combined, 94 percent of the original forest floor was either disturbed by logging o r had logging debris piled upon it. Seventy-one percent of the surface was affected in the final two cuts. Here reproduction was destroyed; on the small undisturbed surfaces i t was overly dense--an extremely patchwise and unsatisfactory pattern of natural regeneration. If the 36 r e s e r v e t r e e s survive, a stand of hemlock reproduction may yet become established , Summary of South Olympic Areas The selectively cut, old-growth forest in the south Olympics was sampled by three groups of permanent sample plots to measure the amount cut, injury, current mortality, and growth. They were supplemented by temporary plots for further checks of injury and mortality several years after logging. On a p a r t of this a r e a second and third partial cuts were also made and their effects on the stand recorded. F r o m 35 to 50 percent of the r e s e r v e stand on both the p e r manent plots and the other plots sustained logging injury. The permanent plots for the f i r s t 5 years after cutting showed a net loss of 781 board feet per a c r e per year; mortality on the other plots was approximately the same Losses declined on the p e r manent plots in the second 5-year period but did not cease. Annual net l o s s for the l0-year period was 517 board feet per a c r e . The second cut revealed i t was not feasible to remove all t r e e s injured in the f i r s t operation because many t r e e s were too small; in fact, the second cut increased the injury to the r e s e r v e stand to a total of 54 percent. A third cut was still m o r e detrimental to this stand. It increased the amount removed to 74 percent of the original forest, eliminated the Douglas-fir, and left an inferior stand of small hemlock t r e e s , most of which had developed in the understory. Thirty-six live t r e e s p e r a c r e were left, 86 percent of them injured o r defective, o r both. Both permanent and temporary plots in this stand indicate that partial cutting has not produced favorable results. Attempts a t second and third cuts made conditions worse instead of better. Mortality on permanent plots was s o g r e a t for the f i r s t 10 y e a r s that if all l o s s e s ceased a t the end of that period another 10 y e a r s would be required a t the c u r r e n t growth r a t e to r e s t o r e p a s t l o s s e s . In other words, 20 y e a r s a f t e r cutting, the r e s e r v e stand would again contain the volume i t had when the f i r s t p a r t i a l cutting operation was finished. Old-Growth Fog Belt F o r e s t s One a r e a sampled was typical of the o v e r m a t u r e fog belt f o r e s t s of Douglas-fir with much hemlock and s p r u c e and s o m e w e s t e r n r e d c e d a r in m i x t u r e . This a r e a is south of Quinault Lake in Washington, on a broad flat that i s low and m o i s t , except for a few well-drained low ridges and knolls. Once the f o r e s t probably contained a somewhat uniform m i x t u r e of a l l f o u r s p e c i e s , but the distribution changed a s the f o r e s t advanced in age to i t s 500-yearold stage of o v e r m a t u r i t y a t the time of cutting. Douglas - f i r appeared to have p e r s i s t e d in g r e a t e r n u m b e r s on the b e t t e r drained s i t e s , the c e d a r on the m o r e m o i s t s i t e s , and s p r u c e and hemlock on the s i t e s witli a v e r a g e drainage. F o r many y e a r s since the stand reached m a t u r i t y the v e r y l a r g e , old t r e e s have been dropping out, to be replaced by an u n d e r s t o r y of the m o r e tolerant species i n a l l age c l a s s e s (6). In s o m e p l a c e s , the old stand i s s t i l l f a i r l y intact; in others, only s c a t t e r e d , old t r e e s r e m a i n . The existing stand p r e s e n t s t h r e e different compositions, and f o r that reason, t h r e e s a m p l e blocks w e r e selected, each consisting of five 1- a c r e plots. The f i r s t block of sample plots was r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of stands in which only s p r u c e and hemlock t r e e s r e m a i n - - s o m e v e t e r a n s of the original f o r e s t , and the r e s t u n d e r s t o r y t r e e s that filled in the stand a s the y e a r s p a s s e d . The second g.roup of sample plots was r e p r e sentative of stands containing a m i x t u r e of Douglas - f i r , w e s t e r n hemlock, and w e s t e r n r e d c e d a r , but no Sitka s p r u c e . The third group of s a m p l e plots r e p r e s e n t e d stands with a few l a r g e , old Douglas-fir and s p r u c e , a heavy stand of u n d e r s t o r y hemlock, and a v e r y light m i x t u r e of w e s t e r n r e d c e d a r . An attempt was made to r e s t o r e this f o r e s t to a d e g r e e of t h r i f t by taking out a few of the remaining old t r e e s . The p e r c e n t of cut varied, depending p r i m a r i l y on how many l a r g e , old Douglas-fir o r Sitka s p r u c e w e r e available f o r cutting. The s a l e was made and the s a m p l e plots established in 1936, but a t f i r s t the cutting was only f o r right-of -ways and landings. Eventually the actual cutting began but was not completed until 1940. Therefore, growth and l o s s e s f o r the f i r s t five y e a r s do not r e p r e s e n t values for a full five-year period after logging except on a very small a r e a where the f i r s t cutting took place. The Spruce -Hemlock Stand The spruce-hemlock stand was only moderately heavy (127,000 board feet p e r a c r e ) , and only a very light cut of l a r g e , old spruce was made. It amounted to l e s s than 20 percent of the g r o s s volume (table 9, plot 19). Since the stand contained a l a r g e number of t r e e s in the s m a l l age c l a s s e s and only a light cut was made, the g r o s s growth on these plots was good; about 1,100 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year for living t r e e s a t the end of the f i r s t 5-year period. But wind* fall and mortality from other causes was s o g r e a t that the t r a c t showed a net l o s s of 170 board feet per a c r e p e r y e a r . - During the next 5 y e a r s , g r o s s growth again was high, averaging about 1,000 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . L o s s e s subsided somewhat, but they were still high enough to r e s u l t in a net gain of only 270 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r for this second 5-year period. Thus, in spite of the light cut and l a r g e number of t r e e s in the younger age c l a s s e s , l o s s e s were sufficiently high to reduce net gain to 50 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year for the 10-year period a f t e r the beginning of logging. Scattered Old Douglas - F i r and Cedar with Hemlock Understory This three-species stand contained 170, 000 board feet to the a c r e (table 9, plot 2 0 ) . About 59,000 board feet were removed by cutting. The cut consisted mostly of very l a r g e Douglas-firs. G r o s s growth on this a r e a f o r the f i r s t 5-year period averaged only 500 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year, l e s s than half that of the spruce-hernlock stand. Mortality was s o heavy that the group of sample plats showed a net l o s s of 3,100 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year f o r the f i r s t 5-yeas period after cutting s t a r t e d . C r o s s growth during the second 5-year period was even l e s s , averaging only 340 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year, and l o s s e s continued high. The 5-year period ended with an average net l o s s of 2,430 board f e e t per a c r e per y e a r . The average annual l o s s for the 10-year period was 2,756 board feet p e r a c r e for this group of sample plots. Table 9.--Ori~i?al stund and cut with annual mortality, moss growth, end net increment duri-w f i r s t and second 5 years i n fog-belt area. (Per-acre values are niven by species i n number of trees and Scribner volume. ) 1 Reserve Plot location and species - Olympic N. F. No. 19 Western heznlock Sitka spruce Total Gross growth Gross volume R r acre Bd. f t . ger acre 27.2 26.0 53.2 36,100 91.300 127.400 - NO. 20 Olympic N. F. Douglas-fir Western hemlock Western redcedar Total - Olympic 11. F. No. 21 ' Douglas-fir Western hemlock Sitka spruce Western redcedar Total P.r acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre 0.2 3 .2 3.4 182 21.539 21,721 .o.& 0.52 567 72 6% 2.6 54.773 2,405 1.760 58.938 0.16 2,Mb 61,964 .2 1 .0 31.0 6,711 17G.ka 5.2 32.4 98,& 36,248 k0,164 2.8 1J.t 2.2 43.4 2.086 176.964 6.4 5.4 Bd. f t . per acre 4.4 -- 24 86,141 - - Olppic N. F. Mo. 20 Douglas-fir western hemlock Westarn redcedar Total - Olympic W. F. No. 21 Douglas-f i r Western hemlook Sitira spruce Western redcedar Total -- 3,010 0.4 572 0.24 0.0 1,Ca 1.96 .12 1.944 drl --- 0.20 2.08 2.185 0.20 0.56 970 556 z- 3.154 -- Bd. f t . per acre Per acre ---- B s -0.36 .36 -0.72 - 389 219 170 -0.16 -2.L20 - 451 721 1.172 -- " -0.80 -3.@81 34 - 0 . -2.16 .20 1 -2,!&9 - -- -2.44 0.12 .08 0.20 135 173 308 3.8 18.0 .8 %,937 36.033 5.090 0.08 .12 646 387 -- 0 % 22.6 96.060 0.20 1.033 0.s 2.0 20.2 2.2 2f3.530 21,081 14,954 2,150 66,715 --- -- rCOg -- 33 --- -- v- -- 0.56 0.04 230 0.60 -0 .& 230 1lL 0.08 .16 0.24 .--dr 1.730 88 736 -- . 81 905 z%u%e per acre -., . 25.2 928 501 365 106 12 517 I per acre 21 .C 46.2 37,971 70.856 104,827 3.8 1 . .8 22.6 .5,% 2.0 20.2 2.2 --h1822 2; Ui .8 I Second 5 years 33.971 70,856 ia4.an . -- Gross volume No. of trees & 0.40 25.2 21.0 46.2 24.8 -- -- Roseme stand 5 years a f t e r cuttine 01ylnpic N. F. NO. 19 Western hemlock sitka spruce ~0ta1 0.b 0.40 o.& .-.. a I 253 30 683 Per acre -- .LC -- 0.20 .32 0.60 BO. f t . per acre 526 -- 21,755 2~422 Psr acre stand 5 years ~ f t e rcukting Gross No. of trees vpzum Annual net increment %,937 36,033 28,530 21.081 l4.954 2.150 66.715 Reserve stand 10 yearn a f t e r cutting ----- -------------- 33 y: -0.00 F - -.20 - &6 3.4 51,710 -1,792 8 -2,430 17.0 .8 21.2 Q,068 341 -0.28 3% -2 -0.24 431 3% -0.32 8 774, -- -- 88 -.a - 2 6 8 -- . - 2.0 19.0 1.8 23.2 5,130 83.3Ct3 28,089 16.927 13,616 2&g 62,820 , Scattered Old Douglas VFir and Spruce with Hemlock Understory The g r o s s volume of this stand was 177,000 board feet p e r a c r e , from which 86,000 board feet, o r about half of the volume, was removed (table 9, plot 21). The cut was mostly Douglas-firs. During the f i r s t 5-year period, growth amounted to about 500 board feet p e r a c r e per y e a r . But l o s s e s from both windfall and other causes w e r e heavy, and the period ended with a net l o s s of 4,800 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r . In the next 5 y e a r s , growth fell off somewhat, dropping to L o s s e s a l s o were lower, s o that the average annual net l o s s was 780 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year. F o r the lo-year period, the net annual l o s s was 2,800 board f e e t per acre, 350 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year. Summary of Old-Growth Fog Belt F o r e s t s The t h r e e different conditions of stand composition in the fog belt were subjected to partial cuts which varied from 17 percent of the volume on the spruce-hemlock plots to 49 percent on the 4-species plots. All a r e a s showed l o s s e s . The a r e a s having the highest volume in l a r g e old-growth t r e e s had the heaviest l o s s e s . Strangely enough, both in the f i r s t and second 5-year periods, the l o s s e s were not entirely from windfall. Many of the old t r e e s died standing, and others showed signs of dying from the top down. T h e r e was no way to identify the cause of this l o s s positively. A m o s t probable cause i s the sudden i n c r e a s e in exposure of t r e e crowns in the r e s e r v e stand, but proof i s lacking. L o s s e s were heaviest on the a r e a where percentage of l a r g e , old t r e e s was highe s t and cutting was heaviest, but considerable l o s s a l s o occurred on that p a r t of the a r e a with fewer l a r g e , old t r e e s . Mortality declined in the second 5-year period, but l o s s e s by no means stopped. A check of individual a c r e s showed that onethird of the a c r e s made a net gain in the f i r s t 5 y e a r s , and twothirds showed a l o s s . S i m i l a r r e s u l t s occurred in the second 5-year period although the l o s s e s w e r e not s o heavy. 1 Average annual net l o s s for these 3 fog belt stands over the e n t i r e 10-year period was 1,830 board feet per a c r e . The sprucehemlock plots showed a net gain of 50 board feet p e r a c r e p e r y e a r , but this was f a r offset by the net l o s s in the other two stand conditions. Volume was g r e a t before cutting, and even the heaviest cut (49 percent) left a heavy stand per acre. In the heavy residual stands, the current gross growth on the different areas varied from 340 to over 1,100 board feet per a c r e per year on trees alive at the end of 10 years. However, this growth waa much l e s s than the annual loss. Scattered, overmature trees, more than 500 years old, were still common in the stand after cutting. The large trees that were windfallen or cut left such large holes in the younger residual stand h t i t became highly subject to windfall, sunscald injury, and other losses in the years that followed. Although mortality rate decreased during the second 5 years, there was no assurance that losses would cease. Even though losses should cease, the forest wodd have to grow an average of 1,000 board feet per a c r e per year for the next 18 yeare, to regain the volume lost in 10 years. In other words, 28 years after logging started, the volume would once more about equal that in the reserve s a n d when the f i r s t cutting was completed. After the f i r s t light windfall on this partially cut area, a salvage cut was made. Scattered windfalls and a few high-risk trees were removed, making small openings, but windfall lose increased. Xt was then proposed to clear cut the a r e a s of heaviest windfall loss, but the clear cut had not been made a t the time of the lo-year examination. In the small openings made by salvage cuts, a heavy stand of brush developed, which will hamper future cutting operations and retard natural regeneration. T h i s forest was long past maturity, and large trees had been dropping out of it for perhaps 300 years o r more. There is little reason to believe that accelerating this opening-up process by a cut of me-third af the volume would restore this type of stand to a growing condition. Hemlock, spruce, and cedar are normally shallowrooted species, and Douglas -fir, when growing on a moist site such as this, is m o r e shallow rooted and l e s s windfirrn than usual. Therefore, it seems more logical that accelerated removal of old trees would incpease windfall and other losses, and that is what happened on this a r e a , Young-Growth Fog Belt F o r e s t With Scattered Old Trees I The stand composition and treatment of a young-growth stand in the fog belt was markedly different from that in other a r e a s studied. The tract is located on Youngs River on the northern Oregon coast, and the sample consists of four 1-acre plots in a block (table 10). I Table 10.IOTiginal stand and c u t with annual nmrtality. Eross ~ r o r t h ,and n e t increment d u r i x f i r s t and second 5 years i n a spruce-hedlook stand. (Psr-acre values a r e riven i n number of t r e e s and Soribmr vulume--1 area comprising a a r e s not included i n previous suamaries.) F i r s t 5 years Original s t r n d P l o t location and species So. of tnes I I Gross wlums -Wr acm Bd. Pt. Ho. of trees Per more per acre - Clatsop l o . 5 (Youngas River) western hemlock Sitka spruoe Total 511.7 253 80.0 63.611 23.851 87.42 Annual mortality and gross growth Cut o r destroyad I I Gross volume Bd. Pt. Mortality Windfall no. of Gross trees volu~na Per acre per acre 8.2 1.0 9 .2 8,245 1.185 25.~0 0 Bd. f t . p e r acre Per acre 0.50 : 1.00 Other No. of trees .06 430 0.56 Reserve stand 5 years after cutlllp - Clatsop lo. 5 (Young's Ri-) Western hemlook Sitka spruoe Total 39.5 10.835 23.5 63.O 66.a Gross rolum Bd. f t . per acre Annual n e t increment Gmss growth Gross No. of wlumas trees Per acre SO 7 287 ---- -- Bd. f t . p e r acre 975 1.515 No. of trees -. Gross volume Bd.ft. . -0 per acre -1.40 a -1-56 798 - .16 p e r acre 39.5 40,835 5dr Renerve stand 10 p a r a a f t e r cutting Second 5 years 0.14 .20 0.34 Reserve stand 5 years dtercutting Gross Ro. of volume trees - 156 0.10 3h 0.m 805 0.20 615 235 0.4 43 0 .CQ 1,328 0.4k 1,050 38.5 k3s9W In 19 10, a majority of widely scattered old-growth Douglas -fir and Sitka s p r u c e t r e e s had been removed from a dense 50-year-old stand. This young stand was s o dense that the a r e a was still well stocked after most of the l a r g e old t r e e s were removed. The younggrowth stand, consisting of hemlock and spruce, was partially cut, a few m o r e of the old t r e e s taken out in 1935, and the sample plots put in a t that time. If i t were not for the old-growth element in the stand, the operation could be classed a s a thinning r a t h e r than a partial cutting in old growth. The average age of the young stand when partially cut in 1935 was about 75 years; s o m e of the hemlock was considerably older, and some of the spruce was considerably younger, The cut varied from 18 to 51 percent on the 1- a c r e plots, and averaged 29 percent (table 10). The individual plot r e c o r d s showed heaviest l o s s e s and lowest growth r a t e for the plots with the heaviest cut. The l o s s from windfall was double that from other causes. Total l a s s from a l l causes was almost 500 board feet p e r a c r e p e r year for the 10-year period. Increment borings showed no particular acceleration of growth a f t e r the removal of scattered old t r e e s in 1910, but up to the 1935 cut, the spruce was making m o r e rapid growth than the hemlock. After the 1935 cut, there was an acceleration in the growth of hemlock, but the growth of individual hemlock t r e e s still did not equal that of spruce. Growth of the r e s e r v e stand p e r year for the f i r s t 5-year period was m o r e than 1,500 board feet p e r a c r e , and for the second, m o r e than 1, 300 board feet. In spite of considerable windfall and other mortality, annual net growth was nearly 1,000 board feet p e r a c r e for the 10-year period. T h e r e were two l a r g e and two small Douglas-fir t r e e s on the plots when they were established in 1935. The two l a r g e Douglasf i r s were cut l a t e r . The two s m a l l Douglas -firs remain on the plots, but their volume was included with that of spruce. Except for these two s m a l l t r e e s , the 1910 and 1935 cuts have practically eliminated Douglas-fir and greatly increased the percentage of hemlock in this stand. While the overall net growth was good, individual plot r e c o r d s showed that heavy partial cuts w e r e impractical in young sprucehemlock stands because the cutting resulted in heavy mortality f r o m windfall and other causes and reduced the growth rate. Light cuts appeared feasible and were associated with rapid growth and no mortality. Old-Growth Douglas-Fir With P o r t ~ O r f o r d - C e d a rMixture One sample of p a r t i a l cutting was studied in the P o r t - O r f o r d c e d a r mixture, a subtype of Douglas-fir, on the P o r t Orford Cedar Experimental F o r e s t ( P o w e r s , Oregon). Before the cutting the f o r e s t was a heavy old-growth stand of Douglas - f i r (122,000 board f e e t p e r a c r e ) with a 25-percent mixture of P o r t - O r f o r d - c e d a r , and a negligible amount of hemlock in the understory. The operation differed from others in that only P o r t - O r f o r d - c e d a r was cut. Two 4 - a c r e plots w e r e established. P l o t No. 1 was destroyed by roadbuilding and f i r e by the end of the f i r s t 5-year period and therefore abandoned. P l o t No. 2 was kept intact and maintained through the second 5 y e a r s after cutting (table 11). A n a v e r a g e of 27,000 board feet p e r a c r e was cut f r o m the stand on plot 2. Annual growth of r e s e r v e t r e e s was m o r e than 500 board feet p e r a c r e during the f i r s t 5 y e a r s , but 3 l a r g e Douglas-firs died during that time. The r e s u l t was an a v e r a g e annual net l o s s of 770 board f e e t p e r a c r e for the period. In the second 5 y e a r s , l o s s e s ceased and the t r e e s showed accelerated growth, making an a v e r a g e annual net i n c r e a s e of over 900 board feet p e r a c r e . T h e r e was practically no l o s s of p o r t - O r f o r d - c e d a r in 10 y e a r s . Increment borings showed that 33 out of 40 c e d a r t r e e s showed a c c e l e r a t e d growth, 5 showed no change, and 2 showed a slower growth r a t e a f t e r cutting. L i t t l e o r no Douglas-fir regeneration c a m e in. But new Port-Orford-cedar regeneration showed up in the openings, and growth of established reproduction a c c e l e r a t e d . T h e s e findings indicate that if a p a r t i a l cut w e r e applied m o r e to Douglas -fir and l e s s to P o r t -Orford-cedar, the percentage of cedar in the stand would gradually i n c r e a s e , and Douglas -fir d e c r e a s e . If further t e s t s subs tantiate these findings, the p a r t i a l cutting method might well be applied in the cutting of old-growth stands if the policy i s to favor P o r t - O r f o r d - c e d a r . PARTIAL CUTTING IN FRINGE TYPES ON SEVERE SITES Individual t r e e selection o r even shelterwood cutting may have a place in s o m e of the abnormal stands o r s i t e s in this region. Douglas -fir o c c u r s in pure stands o r in mixture with ponderosa pine and other s p e c i e s in a somewhat all-aged f o r e s t on d r y s i t e s . In these stands e a s t of the Cascade Range and to s o m e extent in Table 11.--Reserve st=% d t e r .cut vrith artru33, anortslity, morra mowth. and net incremeat durinRfir.e&[email protected]~5~ gpgp~,sP in Dwlas-fir Port-Orford-ceder tme. (Per-acre values me aiven in nunber of trees and bribner volwne-2 are- cqrh.*g, 4???~!8J) - Reserve stand a f t e r cutting Plot and species No.of trees ( ( Annr~almortality and cross growth Mortelity Gross growth Other Windfall Gross No.of ( Gross No.of No.of I Gross trees I volume volume trees trees I volume Gross volume Per acre Bd. f t . p e r acre Per acre Bd. f t . per acre Per ecre 230 56 0.10 070 .46 .5O 1.76 Y I C w I Plot No. 1 port-~rfort-cedar ~ouglas-fir Western hemlock Other Totn? 6.5 18.5 3 -8 5.8 35.6 5,804 18,603 836 5,408 30,651 0.20 0.24 286 Plot No. 2 Port-Grford-cedar ~ouglas-fir Western hemlock Total 12.0 25.0 1,7 38.7 6,605 87,538 630 94,833 0.04 62 .04 ---- -- -- ---0.04 Per acre -- 0.a -273 27 1,339 0.08 132 397 0.20 E1 755 87 -04 416 ---- -- -- 0.16 1,216 -- 62 0.20 1.232 0.34 .04 Bd. f t . per acre 16 14 19 60 430 5% Per acre -- .70 .1;6 -0.30 . -1.92 - 0.16 -0.16 .10 0.10 12.8 2h.2 2.2 39.2 6.591 83,608 781 90,980 I Gross (volume Per acre Bd, f t . per acre 338 538 5.0 15.0 4,112 15,912 284 -1,228 5 --- - 1 *5 68 2 786 18 770 ksa I 26.0 24.511 12 .E! 24.2 2.2 39.2 83,608 78 1 90,980 6,591 1 Reserve stand ~ P t e rc u t t i n g No. of trees $d. f t . per acre I I Plot No. 2 Port-3ri'ord-cedar Dougle s - f i r Western hemlock Total Bd. f t . per acre Reserve stand 5 years a f t e r cutting Annual n e t increment Gross Mo.of volume trees Second 5 yews -- - _ I I _ _ - - _ _ Y - _ - - - - - Y _ _ _ - - - - ---- -- -- &f Plot Hoe 1 wae batrayed after the first 5 yews and i s not Lncladsd in tho second 5-year recorb 128 675 112 915 -- o m .6O 0.74 128 675 112 915 a f t e r cutting 13.5 24.2 5.2 u.9 - 7,321 86,984 1.3& 95,8;5 b southwest Oregon and on s e v e r e s i t e s within the region p r o p e r , m o i s t u r e i s the limiting f a c t o r . T h e s e stands a r e s h o r t , windfirm, and somewhat open; they l e t in enough light f o r s o m e Douglas-fir r e p r o duction t o become established and grow. Sample plots w e r e not located in t h e s e stands in this study, but p a r t i a l cutting o r t r u e s e l e c tion cutting in t h e s e stands was p r a c t i c e d with s u c c e s s e a s t of the C a s c a d e Range before this p r o j e c t began. T h e r e s e e m s to be no logical r e a s o n why i t would not be equally successful on the d r i e r s i t e s of southwest Oregon, the loose, gravelly s o i l s of the Puget Sound region, o r on s e v e r e south slopes e l s e w h e r e within the Douglas - f i r region. Douglas - f i r seedlings become established b e s t under light shade, but once established they m a k e their b e s t growth and development in full sunlight. T h e r e f o r e , on the d r y o r m o r e s e v e r e s i t e s w h e r e t r e e s a r e s h o r t and windfirrn t h e r e i s no r e a s o n why this s p e c i e s would not r e s t o c k b e t t e r under a light shelterwood cutting than under c l e a r cutting. Once the reproduction i s established, the overwood should be removed. T h i s recommendation applies only to the d r i e r , m o r e s e v e r e s i t e s w h e r e t r e e s a r e s h o r t e r and m o r e windfirm than usual. T h e shelterwood s y s t e m i s not now and never h a s been recommended by the author f o r a v e r a g e o r b e t t e r s i t e s in the Douglas -fir region w h e r e stands a r e d e n s e , w h e r e t r e e s a r e t a l l and shallow rooted, and a r e not windfirm. SUMMARY A N D DISCUSSION A s i n g l e - t r e e , p a r t i a l cutting s y s tern was t r i e d under a wide range of stand conditions in the Douglas r f i r region. S a m p l e plots w e r e established in national-forest t i m b e r s a l e s f r o m Darrington, Washing ton, to Oakridge, Oregon, to m e a s u r e the effect of this type of cutting. Stands v a r i e d in a g e f r o m 150 to m o r e than 500 y e a r s . Species composition v a r i e d f r o m p u r e Douglas-fir to heavy m i x t u r e s of a s s o c i a t e s p e c i e s , including 2 - s t o r y stands and stands with a n all-aged u n d e r s t o r y . T h e cut v a r i e d f r o m l e s s than 20 p e r c e n t to m o r e than 50, and a v e r a g e d 36 p e r c e n t of the v i r g i n stand by g r o s s volume. M e r chantable t r e e s f r o m the o l d e s t and l a r g e s t s i z e c l a s s w e r e cut; they w e r e usually Douglas-fir and the b e s t t r e e s in the stand. The weighted a v e r a g e g r o s s growth of r e s e r v e stands composed of t r e e s alive 10 y e a r s a f t e r cutting was 555 board f e e t p e r a c r e p e r y e a r , but this was m o r e than offset by m o r t a l i t y . Two of 15 s a m p l e a r e a s showed a net gain for both the f i r s t and second 5-year periods, and 3 m o r e showed a net gain either in the f i r s t o r second period. Most Douglas -fir and Sitka spruce, usually the oldest t r e e s , either maintained a uniform growth r a t e o r showed a decline in the 10 y e a r s a f t e r cutting, compared to the 10 y e a r s before cutting. On the other hand, most hemlock, cedar, and silver f i r showed an accelerated growth after cutting. Annual mortality averaged 1 , 4 9 7 board feet per a c r e . The net l o s s 10 y e a r s after logging, then, was 941 board feet per a c r e per year. Some a r e a s appeared to become stabilized during the f i r s t 5 years, but others had the heaviest l o s s e s in the second 5-year period. Windfall was the g r e a t e s t single cause of loss, exceeding a l l others combined. If no further l o s s were t o occur after the 10-year period, and i f growth were to continue a t the c u r r e n t r a t e , another 15 to 20 y e a r s would be required to r e s t o r e the volume l o s t during the f i r s t 10 y e a r s a f t e r logging. In other words, 25 to 30 y e a r s a f t e r cutting the average r e s e r v e stand would have the s a m e vvlurne a s i t had when the cutting operation was finished. The f o r e s t would yield no net volume i n c r e a s e in 25 to 30 y e a r s following a partialcutting operation. Felling aod skidding caused considerable damage to the r e s e r v e stand. Most skidding was done by the crawler-type tractor, and m o r e than one-third of the t r e e s received some s o r t of logging injury, often s e v e r e enough to r e t a r d growth and sometimes s e v e r e enough to kill the t r e e , A second and third cut on one a r e a indicated that the percentage of injured t r e e s in the r e s e r v e stand would i n c r e a s e with each successive light cut in these heavy old-growth f o r e s t s . A l a r g e percentagz of the r e s e r v e t r e e s were hemlock, true f i r s , OX spruce. A s e p a r a t e study of decay entrance a f t e r injury to these species showed that 6 3 percept of the logging s c a r s had decay i x i t no them ( 9 ) . Although decay was p r e s e n t in the 02-igia.al f ~ r e s and doubt was accelerated by logging injury and sunscald, no volume deductions were made for decay in the figures shown in this stui?.~. Therefore, decay l o s s e s , where they occur, will be in addition to l o s s e s shown in this r e p o r t . Analysis of r e s u l t s under different stand conditions reveals a trend toward change in species composition. Where Douglas-Zir was present, the percentage was reduced by the cut. Sometimes the Douglas -fir was completely eliminated from the stand. Except in the l a r g e s t openings, only a few Douglas-fir seedlings were reported, but none were vigorous enough to be considered well established. Seedlings of the m o r e tolerant speciesl-hemlock, grand f i r , silver f i r , and cedar9-were well established in many stands , Sufficient time has not elapsed to determine if an all-age f o r e s t could be developed, but the r e c o r d s to date indicate that the percentage of Douglas-fir in the stand i s reduced by this type of cut, and since no regeneration i s becoming established, the species will eventually be eliminated. If a n all-age f o r e s t can be developed, i t will contain little i f any Douglas -fir. Since Douglas .fir is usuqlly the oldest and l a r g e s t element in a stand, i t will probably be mostly taken out in the f i r s t few partial cuts. Thus, the peeler logs and other high-grade m a t e r i a l will be eliminated long before the complete stand is removed, and-the supply of this c l a s s of m a t e r i a l will be exhausted m o r e quickly than if the f o r e s t were harvested in small, clear-cut blocks, In other words, light successive p a r t i a l cuts will quickly eliminate highgrade m a t e r i a l from D ~ u g l a s ~ ffiorr e s t s . . The r e s u l t s of this study, on the whole, provide f u r t h e r proof of the accepted hypothesis that an intolerant t r e e like Douglas-fir i s unsuited for a selection cutting that continuously hakvests the oldest and r i p e s t t r e e s in an all-aged forest. Nevertheless, economic situations or silvicultural conditions ( o r a combination of these) may sometimes justify partial cutting o r even t r e e s election cutting. T h e r e were a few unusual examples on limited a r e a s in this study where acceptable r e s u l t s were obtained with p a r t i a l cuts. A m a t u r e but thrifty stand on the Willamette National F o r e s t (table 5, plot 9) showed no unfavorable effect of partial cutting; growth continued on c l e a r boles a t a slightly accelerated r a t e f o r the 10-year period following the cut. In a Portland city auxiliary watershed on the Mt. Hood National F o r e s t (table 6 , plots 8 and 9) a light cut was made to remove high-value, overmature Douglas-fir. A net growth with practically no l o s s followed the cut, and there was no apparent impairment of watershed values; however, t h e r e was evidence that the cut increased the percent of defect i n the stand and speeded up the natural transition from a high,grade f o r e s t of Douglas -fir to a lower grade f o r e s t of tolerant species, Removing old, s c a t t e r e d Douglas-firs and s p r u c e s and a sma1lqpercentage of a 75-year-old understory of hemlock and spruce r e s d t e d in good growth and little l o s s [table 10) in a fog belt a r e a . A partial cut in a mixed stand of Douglas "fir and Port-Orford "cedar showed that the cut would favor the P o r t - O r f ~ r d ~ c e d aelement r in the .stand (table 101, a highly desirable s ilvicultural objective in the type. A partial cut may a l s o be employed successfully to salvage widely s c a t t e r e d bug-killed timber where the kill is not heavy enough in one locality o r c o v e r s too l a r g e a n a r e a to justify immediate c l e a r cutting. N o a r e a was sampled in this study where Douglas-fir was growing a s an all-aged f o r e s t , o r where t h e r e was evidence that a n all-aged f o r e s t of Douglas-fir would develop a s a r e s u l t of p a r t i a l cuts o r any form of individual t r e e selection. However, Douglas-fir does grow a s an all-aged f o r e s t and i s being managed by selection cutting in the pine m i x t u r e types e a s t of the Cascade Range on s e m i a r i d s i t e s . T h e r e s e e m s no logical r e a s o n why i t could not be managed in a s i m i l a r manner in the fringe types on the d r i e r s i t e s in southwest Oregon, the gravel soils of the Puget Sound region, o r s e v e r e , southerly exposures elsewhere in the region where m o i s t u r e and shade a r e c r i t i c a l f a c t o r s , CONCLUSION The partial-cutting system a s studied and reported in this paper h a s not proved to be a successful method of harvesting the c r o p and converting the n o r m a l virgin f o r e s t s of Douglas-fir to new or thrifty stands on the a v e r a g e o r b e t t e r s i t e s in the region. Even under conditions where it a p p e a r s to offer p r o m i s e , i t i s always associated with an impending danger of a n unfavorable species change o r l o s s from windfall, insects, o r a combination of c a u s e s . T h e r e f o r e , any plan for p a r t i a l cut o r selection cut in the Douglas-fir type should include a careful study of stand conditions in advance and provision f o r salvage in the event of s e v e r e l o s s o r catastrophe. SELECTED LITERATURE CITED (1) B a k e r , F r e d e r i c k S o 1934. T h e o r y and p r a c t i c e of silviculture. McCraw-Hill, New York. 502 pp., illus. (2) B r a n d s t r o m , A. J. F. 1933. Analysis of logging c o s t s and operating methods in the Douglas f i r region. 117 pp., i l l u s . C h a r l e s L a t h r o p P a c k F o r e s t r y Foundation, Wash, D. C. (3) Hawley, Ralph C . , and Munns, E. N. 1950. F o r e s t terminology. 9 3 pp. Society of A m e r i c a n F o r e s t e r s , Wash. D G C e (4) I s a a c , L e o A. 1943. Reproductive habits of Douglas -fir. 107 pp. , illus. C h a r l e s L a t h r o p P a c k F o r e s t r y Foundation, Wash. D. C c (5) Kirkland, B u r t P o ,and B r a n d s t r o r n , A . F. 1936. Selective t i m b e r management in the Douglas f i r region. 122 pp., i-llus. C h a r l e s L a t h r o p Pack F o r e s t r y Foundation, Wash. D. C. J G ( 6 ) Munger, T . T. 1930. Ecological a s p e c t s of the t r a n s i t i o n f r o m old f o r e s t s to new. Science, 7 2 (1866): 327-332. (7) Munger, T. T . 1-950. A l o o k a t s e l e c t i v e cutting i n D o u g l a s - f i r . F o r e s t r y 4862): 97-99, Jour. (8) S t e e l e , R o b e r t W e ,and Worthington, Norman P. 1955. I n c r e m e n t and m o r t a l i t y in a virgin Douglas-fir f o r e s t . Pacific Northwest F o r e s t and Range ExptG S t a . , R e s . Note 110, 6 p p . , i l l u s . ( p r o c e s s e d ) (9) Wright, E r n e s t , and I s a a c , L e o A . 1955" Decay following logging i n j u r y t o w e s t e r n hemlock, S i t k a s p r u c e , and t r u e f i r s . Submitted for publication as U, S . Dept. A g r . Tech. Bul.