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SHF2UB AND TRF.c ACE DATA <br />Selected specimens of five different shrub species (Basin big sagebrush, <br />common chokecherry, Utah servicebesry, irountain snowberry and Gambol <br />oak) and aspen were aged and their size (height for shrubs and circuRr <br />ference at breast height for aspen) measured to determine the correlation <br />between size and age. The resulting information provided the basis for <br />estimating the age of tree and shrub stands based on their size. For <br />each species, 20 healthy specimens of varying size were selected from a <br />variety of locations and environrrental conditions. Aging techniques <br />varied slightly for the different species. <br />Stems of biq sagebrush plants were cut off at ground level with a hacksaw <br />and the excess stern material removed. The sample was appropriately <br />labeled and stored in a labeled bag. The sarloles were sanded to a srooth <br />surface with progressively finer Grades of sand and eirory paper. The <br />samples were then aged (annual growth rings counted) with aten-pacer <br />hand lens.. <br />C~ <br />Chokecherry, serviceberry, and snaaberry samples were taken in the Wanner <br />described for the big sagebrush with a slight variation. In selecting <br />the stem for cutting, the largest stem in each shrub was reiroved at <br />ground level. In the laboratory, the stars were cut to a length of <br />10 cm then sawed diagonally through the opposite ends. The better of <br />the tcao halves was then sanded in the same manner as described for the <br />big sagebrush. The bark was removed and the halves were boiled for an <br />hour with frequent water changes to avoid unnecessary wood discoloration. <br />The annual rings were then counted with the aid of a ten-pacer hand lens. <br />Young aspen and Garibel oak specimons were aged using the above rrethod. <br />For larger speciicnns, a 15 inch Swedish incracont corer caws used to <br />obtain a sample core from each shrub or tree. The cores were place3 <br />inside soda straws arxi sealed in appropriately labeled envelopes to avoid <br />brea'~age. The core samples were air dried approximately 24 hours in the <br />laboratory. After they were sufficiently dry, the cores were glued into <br />~• a slotted mounting board and carap~d tightly with string. Once the glue <br />-13- <br />