I02 Forestry Quarterly 



Forestry for Ontario, has pointed out a similar observation in 

 the white pine torests of Canada.* To German foresters the 

 fact was axiomatic more than a quarter century ago.f 



In the case of Engelmauu Spruce it was everywhere apparent 

 that after the seeding is once established, the more humus, the 

 better. Where it exists without any soil cover at all, it does 

 very poorly indeed. For best results seedling growth and humus 

 formation should begin at the same point and proceed hand in 

 hand. 



The large areas of thinly scattered young trees have been 

 noted before. Probably the larger number of these bear cones, 

 and in the case of Englemann Spruce, have borne them for a 

 period of loto 15 years. Yet there are no young seedlings. The 

 question not yet clear is : Why have they not reproduced ? 

 It might be denied that viable seed has been produced. How- 

 ever, at least two incontrovertible instances have been ob- 

 served, in which seed from such trees has reproduced. Climatic 

 influences may complicate the problem. But the lack of proper 

 condition of seedbed would seem to be the most likely .solution. 



Half a century ago, 75 per cent or more of this whole region 

 was laid waste b}^ fire. Since then the seedbed has remained 

 nearly barren and dry, or become grown over with grass, or 

 scattered with Aspen litter. On a few northerly slopes, several 

 inches of dry duff remain, too moist at the time of the fire to be 

 consumed. On these, a properly controlled fire, to burn off the 

 duff and expose the bare mineral soil for the reception of the 

 seed, might prove effective. The young seed-trees, scattered 

 thinly over the area, are easily large enough to escape being 

 killed. Where too much inflammable material is gathered about 

 them, it could readily be removed by hand. But a good scorch- 

 ing might make them bear seed all the more profusely. The 

 burning should be done in the autumn of a seed year, before the 

 falling of the seed. 



The needle cover exerts upon young growth an effect that is 

 the same in kind, but less in degree, as that had by humus 

 cover. In drier situations, more needles and less humus are 

 found, owing to less rapid decay. The rapidity of formation of 

 a needle and humus cover depends principally upon the number 



* Canada Lumberman and Woodworker, 1904. 

 I Gayer, Waldbau. 2d ed., page 300. 



