YELLOW PINE REPRODUCTION: 



CoMAiKNTs ON Factors Affkcting Its Establishment 

 By Walter J. Perry 



Probably every forester who has worked in pine timber, and espe- 

 cially where various age classes are represented, has observed the 

 tendency toward a grouping of certain age classes with relation to the 

 parent tree. This often o1)served fact gives rise to the saving among 

 woodsmen — "they seed before they die." 



This saying, while literallv true, is the result of a misconception of 

 cause and efifect. The reason behind the fact is, of course, that while 

 the tree is in its prime, and while full-crowned and drawing heavily 

 upon the soil moisture, there is but slight chance of seed germinating, 

 or rather of growing very near the parent tree. This is owing to 

 some extent to heavy shade, but to a much greater extent to a lack of 

 sufficient soil moisture to sustain them after germination. Therefore 

 the oldest offspring of these old trees are found as sturdy black jacks 

 which spring up some distance from the parent trees, while the second 

 "wave" more or less completely fills the space about to be vacated by 

 the declining mother tree. 



In open stands, except for some small groups, these old trees are too 

 short and limby to produce either a good quantity or quality of lum- 

 ber. ( The reason is plainly seen in the open nature of the stand in 

 their youth.) Going a step farther on this line, are we not then de- 

 pendent for our next considerable crop of timber not to these first 

 black jacks which sprung up, but on the second "wave" of reproduc- 

 tion which is thick enough to cause upward growth and produce 3-4-log 

 trees? If this is so, it follows that in marking a stand we must make 

 ample provision for bountiful reseeding of the area where reproduction 

 is lacking and not be content with an occasional seedling here and there. 



Not only must reseeding be plentiful, if iimst be prompt. On cut- 

 ting a stand of yellow pine, conditions grow progressively less favor- 

 able with time to the establishment of reproduction. My observations 

 confirm me absolutely in this belief. 



I would cite a case in that cut-over land along the east border of 

 the Carson Forest south of the town of Tres Piedras. This land, 

 several hundreds of acres in extent, bore a stand of pure yellow pine, 

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