YELLOW PINK RKPRODUCTION 623 



and was cut over some 30 years or more ago. The only reproduction 

 that survived after the cutting was of considerable size and has since 

 grown into good-sized black jacks. Many of these young trees are 

 now bearing, as are also the scattered yellow pines that were left. 

 There are, however, practically no new seedlings — not an average of 

 one per acre over large areas ! 



On this area logging was done with cattle; tree tops were left as 

 they fell ; trees left are frequently spaced about as we leave seed trees 

 under our marking policy; there has been no fire since the cutting; 

 the area has probably never been overgrazed, especially by cattle, for 

 lack of stock water, and to my knowledge has been much undergrazed 

 the past 8 years for the same reason ; the tract is lightly grazed, and 

 for short periods, both by cattle and sheep, and there is a very heavy 

 cover of bunch grass and oak brush. This area lies slightly above 

 8,000 feet with a gentle slope to the north and northeast. The soil is 

 clayey and carries but few stones. Why is there no reproduction? 

 I cannot believe under the circumstances that sheep grazing is alto- 

 gether responsible, and especially in recent years. Was jthe land 

 under graced immediately following the cutting? Probably so. 



There was bunch grass there when the timber was cut, and tree 

 tops lie as they fell. Probably the grass was so protected from grazing 

 by horses and cattle — sheep would not eat it in any case — that by its 

 rank growth it kept out pine seedlings, but this does not account for 

 the equal lack of them in the openings. 



General conditions before the cutting are easily ascertainable and 

 were about as follows : Rather open stand of mature pine and black 

 jacks and scattered seedlings; bunch grass and oak brush between; 

 clay soil ; small amount of humus on ground ; water run-ofif was rapid 

 and land rather dry in consequence. Then came a heavy cutting re- 

 sulting in a very thin stand permitting the full drying effects of sun 

 and wind on an already dry soil and the surface was promptly baked. 

 Probably there was no seed produced the year of the cutting, nor the 

 following year, or there would almost certainly have been some repro- 

 duction. The opening of the stand greatly favored the existing bunch 

 grass and oak, even old tree sites being promptly occupied, still fur- 

 ther reducing the chances of germination by failure of pine seed to 

 reach the ground, and with all the advantage on the side of the bunch 

 grass and oak in a competition for soil moisture if any seedlings started. 

 Conditions grew progressively worse from year to year. There are no 

 seedlings. 



