LOBLOLLY OK NORTH CAROLINA PINE. 45 



Isolated trees begin to produce seed when about 15 years old. In 

 crowded stands the age of cone production is later, between the twen- 

 tieth and twenty-fifth year, and production is restricted to dominant 

 trees. Seed production is relatively scant, hoAvevei', until stands are 40 

 to 50 years old. 



In the regularity and frequency of its seeding the loblolly pine is in 

 strong contrast to the longleaf pine, which bears seed abundantly only 

 at intervals of several years, and often no seed at all over extensive 

 areas during the intervening period. The pocoson pine produces some 

 seed nearly every year, but never any large amount. Its cones often 

 remain on the trees unopened for several years, which interferes with 

 the propagation of that species and the general distribution of its seed. 

 The loblolly pine is more regular and prolific in its seeding than the 

 shortleaf. 



The loblolly pine produces its flowers about the tenth of April in the 

 vicinity of Chapel Hill, N. C, near the western limits of its distribu- 

 tion, and the last of March in the vicinity of Wilmington, N. C. This 

 is too late in the season to be injured by late spring frosts which at 

 times interfere with the setting of seed of the longleaf pine in the west- 

 ern part of its range in iN^orth Carolina. The cones require two seasons 

 in which to mature. 



GERMINATION AND PLANT ESTABLISHMENT. 



Most of the seed germinate the spring after maturing, generally be- 

 tween the first of March and middle of May, the time varying according 

 to the w^armth of the season, the distance from the coast and the amount 

 of moisture in the seedbed. A few seed apparently lie over until mid- 

 summer. South of latitude 35 and near the coast, some seed apparently 

 germinate in the fall. Germination takes place either in the shade of 

 old trees, or in the direct sunlight, on barely moist to very wet soils. 

 Xaked earth makes the best seedbed, as the roots striking at once into 

 the soil do not dry out. This accounts for the thorough stocking of old 

 fields notwithstanding the exposure of the seed to the sun. Seed will 

 germinate and the young plants take root in soil covered with a heavy 

 sod of coarse grass, such as broom grass which often grows two or three 

 feet high. Though the seed will germinate on damp leaf mould of 

 broadleaf species and on damp pine leaves (straw) and litter, the young 

 seedlings on account of their superficial root system are liable to dry 

 out. The seed will seldom germinate on thick beds of dry leaves or 

 pine needles, and it is generally necessary to destroy a thick layer of 

 litter or to bring the mineral soil to the surface before restocking can 

 be secured in such situations.* Occasionally a mossy log or rotten 

 stump in the damp shade of a deep swamp has young seedlings on it, but 

 during the first drought of summer most of them perish. For the same 

 reason the young seedlings secure a permanent foothold with difficulty 

 on the coarse and dry sands of the pine barrens which are so porous 



*For full diseusfion of this see Proceedings Society American Foresters, 1910, page 90 and 

 following. 



