VELtOW PINK RIC PRODUCTION 625 



lings should come in around our cut stumps just as well, and actually 

 do so. provided an abundance of seed is available and promptly 

 available, as usually happens in nature. That is, if seed is promptly 

 deposited in the moisture-retaining humus around the stumps before 

 grass comes in, there will very probably result a stand of seedlings 

 sufificiently t.hick to produce a complete stand of shapely and com- 

 mercially valuable trees, while if sole dependence for seed is placed in 

 small, sparse, and immature trees to cover large areas, the site will most 

 likely be taken by grass and brush with only an occasional accidental 

 pine. If restocking is not prompt it may, for the above reasons, be 

 delayed an indefinite time, possibly a tree generation or more, and 

 this regardless of the best grazing practice. 



This argues for light marking on unfavorable sites and where repro- 

 duction is backward, even at the sacrifice of some timber which may 

 go to waste before another cutting. I am convinced that this is the 

 only way on certain stubborn sites. 



If the stand is so light that the retention of sufficient seed trees 

 would render the cutting of the remainder unprofitable, it should be 

 allowed to stand uncut, and steps taken to secure reproduction before 

 cutting and to protect it absolutely after cutting. It would appear bet- 

 ter for the people to lose the lumber value of this timber, or a part 

 of it, rather than be deprived of the potential value of the entire forest 

 for possibly some hundreds of years. 



In addition to general observations extending over quite a number 

 of years. I have recently made an intensive study of yellow pine repro- 

 duction on 10 representative plots on an area cut over in 1916. This 

 cutting is still too recent to furnish an ideal field for the study perhaps, 

 but it is the best available. My purpose in making the study was to 

 determine the effect upon reproduction of: (1) Seed trees, their class 

 and spacing, (3) brush disposal, and (3) grazing of cattle and of sheep. 

 The conditions as found, with comments and conclusions, are appended. 



The net result of my observations is the absolute conviction that 

 yellow pine reproduction after cutting depends upon the three follow- 

 ing points which are given in the order of their importance as I value 

 them: (1) Seeding, (2) grazing, and (3) brush disposal. 



Seed Trees: These should be thrifty full-crowned intermediate 

 trees, with large black jacks as second choice. They should be so 

 spaced that no tree would be depended on to seed an area greater than 

 the "fall" of the tree ; that is, a circle the radius of which would equal- 

 the height of the tree. In fact, it will not properly seed a circle of 



