,300 JOURNAL UF l-'OKKSTKY 



ill relatively small experimental plots, usually comprising several hun- 

 dred trees, are: Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), Larix kurilcnsis,. 

 Larix dahnrica, Chinese arborvitse {Thuja orientalis), Japanese red 

 pine (Pinus dcusi flora), Japanese black pine {Pimis tJiunbergii)^. 

 Himalayan edible pine {Piiius gcrardiana) , Taurian pine (Pinus palla- 

 siaua), Himalayan white pine (Pinus cxcclsa), and Colorado blue- 

 spruce (Picca pungcns). Some of these experimental plantings have 

 now been progressing long enough to furnish instructive and reliable^ 

 preliminary conclusions. The writer will, therefore, set forth some of' 

 the conclusions developed from a study of their behavior in the experi- 

 mental plantations on the State forests of Pennsylvania, and in some- 

 instances compare these results Avith those experienced elsewhere. 



Most of the western yellow-pine trees planted to date were set out 

 in 1908 and 1909 on five State forests in different parts of the State. 

 Reports show that the percentage of establishment was low. Of the 

 1,325 trees set out on the Alont Alto State Forest only 153 remain. A 

 plantation on the Greenwood Forest has about 20 per cent of the origi- 

 nal number left. The trees on the Mont Alto State Forest at the end 

 of the 1918 growing season, when the trees were 13 years old. averaged 

 8.2 feet in height and 1.5 inches in diameter. The maximum growth 

 made by any tree during one season was 25.4 inches. Young pitch- 

 pine trees growing near by exceed it in height growth and almost equal 

 it in diameter growth. Its growth in the four other plantations did not 

 equal that at ]\Iont Alto. .\ study of the characteristics of this tree in 

 the regions in which it is indigenous and its behavior in the five Penn- 

 sylvania experiments revealed no special attributes which would rec- 

 ommend it for further planting in the State. 



Douglas fir has been planted more extensively than western yellow 

 pine. The experimental plantings are all relatively young. Both the 

 Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast varieties have been given a trial. 

 The former grows slowly and the latter sufifers severely from frost. 

 This species does well in certain parts of Europe, and it may be pos- 

 sible, through selecting a proper source of the seed supply, to bring it 

 in favor in the East. I have, however, seen only one thrifty middle- 

 aged specimen growing in Pennsylvania. The trees of the Pacific 

 Coast variety, however, have established themselves very satisfactorily, 

 when planted under scrub oak or other hardwood sprout growth, and 

 it may be possible to develop the trees successfully by planting them 

 on areas relatively free from severe fro-ts and by protecting them with 

 a shelter growth during youth. 



