36 Forestry Quarterly. 



of insects, bruising or wounding the surface by falling limbs or 

 gnawing animals, and the scorching effect of a light groundfire 

 are typical examples of a wide variety of effective sources of 

 irritation. The result of the stimulation in all cases is practically 

 identical in bringing about that form of rapid and complex mul- 

 tiplication of new cells which makes for the regeneration of the 

 individual. 



The Locality of Origin. — In the Chestnut the region of sprout- 

 ing is confined to a belt with comparatively narrow vertical limits 

 surrounding the stump and near the contact of the ground sur- 

 face. 



The height at which the parent stump is cut influences to a 

 limited degree the position of the succeeding sprouts. In low- 

 cut stumps the sprouts have a lower origin than under opposite 

 conditions. Again, the point of insertion was observed to be 

 higher in the more moist situations, under a good degree of 

 shade, and on the cooler aspects. In the Red Oak the upper ver- 

 tical limits for the origin of thrifty sprouts is somewhat higher, 

 perhaps as much as 5 to 6 inches. Chestnut rarely if ever makes 

 "stoolshoots" as do occasionally the oaks, frequently the birches, 

 and normally the beech. 



An effort was made to determine any tendencies of location 

 within the horizontal plane of the sprouting belt. There is evi- 

 dence that the root-system exerts an influence in this respect. 

 Frequently the largest groups of sprouts as well as the tallest 

 and best individuals are found at or near the retreating angle 

 between the two main branches of the lateral root system. Often, 

 yet less frequently, the sprouts spring from the convex and more 

 exposed surface of the same roots. In the former position, the 

 bark is less thick and tough, and in general, offers less resistance 

 to the exit of the soft tissues of the growing shoot. The lo- 

 cality is favorable also to the protection of the shoot from ex- 

 ternal mechanical sources of injury. 



The Root System of Young Sprouts. — This centers in a con- 

 sideration of the length of time and the extent to which the old 

 root system continues its function and, correspondingly, under 

 what conditions and to what degree new roots are formed and 

 relied upon by the new generation. 



Only a very small portion of the old root system is called into 

 activity by the sprouts of the first year. The relative demand 



