Germination of Longlcaf Pine 535 



opinions, as expressed by the students, vary as to which affords 

 the better germination site. Both, although different in appear- 

 ance, generally offered much the same conditions for germina- 

 tion, the ground having been burned over immediately before, so 

 that seeds could easily reach the mineral soil. As to hardwood 

 litter, the results seem conclusive ; not only was germination 

 much lower, but it frequently did not occur on well-seeded areas 

 where there was an excess of litter. Plots were taken on pine 

 litter of upwards of four years' accumulation, but not in suffi- 

 cient numbers to afford reliable averages. It was evident, how- 

 ever, that the germination per cent decreased in proportion to 

 the depth of the litter, and seemed to disappear altogether when 

 a litter of four or five years' accumulation was reached. It seems 

 that the chief requisite for germination is that the seed be in 

 contact with the mineral soil. Although occasionally seeds 

 germinate on rotten stumps and logs (but grow only a few 

 weeks), none germinate on litter so deep as to prevent instant 

 contact with the mineral soil. 



The study shows an average of 2.6 seedlings per square foot 

 for all sites, or 113,256 per acre (counts on 543 square feet). 

 If 25,000 seedlings per acre be regarded as full stocking, such 

 a crop as fell in the fall of 1913 should be ample to provide for 

 reproduction. Judging from statements of the local inhabitants, 

 this was about an average crop for a seed year. 



Destruction of Seedlings: Since there is actually no new forest 

 growing up, the question immediately arises : What becomes of 

 these seedlings? As has been intimated, fire kills the major 

 portion of them before they are fairly started. Late summer 

 and fall fires account for the loss of many more. Summer 

 drought and the shade of the old trees, light as it is, cause many 

 more to succumb. Under the combined effect of these factors, 

 only an infinitesimal portion of the seedlings survive the first 

 year. To discover the fate of those seedlings which did escape 

 and get beyond the first year, the writer made a study in the 

 next older seedling age class. A sample plot was taken on a 

 site where conditions were such that part of the crop of the 

 seed year of seven years ago had survived. The results from 

 the study of this plot give much information on the stocking. 



