2409.26g,30
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FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
DENVER, CO
FSH 2409.26g - TREE IMPROVEMENT HANDBOOK
Region 2 Amendment No. 2409.26-96-9
Effective July 5, 1996
POSTING NOTICE: Amendments are numbered consecutively by Handbook
number and calendar year. Post by document name. Remove entire document and
replace with this amendment. Retain this transmittal as the first page of this
document. The last amendment to this Handbook was Amendment 2409.26g-96-8
to 2409.26g,30 Contents.
Document Name
Superseded New
(Number of Pages)
2409.26g,30
Digest:
30 - This is a technical amendment to reformat chapter text.
ELIZABETH ESTILL
Regional Forester
3
R2 AMENDMENT 2409.26g-96-9
EFFECTIVE 7/5/96
2409.26g,30
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FSH 2409.26g - TREE IMPROVEMENT HANDBOOK
R2 AMENDMENT 2409.26g-96-9
EFFECTIVE 7/5/96
CHAPTER 30 - NATURAL REGENERATION
Timber sale marking in stands that are to be managed primarily for timber
purposes and regenerated naturally, shall be done in a manner that will ensure that
only trees exhibiting good growth and form are left as parent seed trees for stand
regeneration. Retention of only good quality parent seed trees for stand
regeneration will ensure maintenance or enhancement of current stand productivity
(volume and quality). The best tool to use to ensure that only the best parent seed
trees are left for stand regeneration is the marking guides that are prepared for
each timber sale.
31 - MARKING GUIDES. Marking guides that are prepared for all timber sales
involving natural regeneration of stands shall include information on quality (size
and form) of trees that will be retained as parent seed trees for stand regeneration.
Trees exhibiting undesirable characteristics should be discriminated against and
removed from the stand prior to or during the regeneration cut. The marking
guides should include a list of desirable traits and trees with the most desirable
traits should be retained (leave trees). Undesirable traits should also be listed and
trees exhibiting these traits should be removed as soon as possible from the stand.
Discretion must be used in evaluating desirable and undesirable traits in the
marking of leave or cut trees. The best and worst quality trees in a stand are easily
recognized, but, often it is difficult to decide which trees should be left when they
have one or more undesirable traits. In these instances, those trees having the
fewest undesirable features should be retained as parent trees.
32 - TRAITS.
32.1 - Desirable.
a. Growth - above average for site and stocking (vol./yr.).
b. Form - single, straight main stem.
- circular base
- little stem taper
- healthy, vigorous crown (min. 25 percent live crown)
- wide internodes
- few nodes per whorl
- short, small diameter branches
- branches at right angles to main stem
- no serious pest or disease incidence
R2 AMENDMENT 2409.26g-96-9
EFFECTIVE 7/5/96
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32.2 - Undesirable.
a. Growth - below average for site and stocking
b. Form - multiple stems.
- repeated forking
- spiral grain
- low vigor crowns
- many, large branches
- serious pest or disease incidence