THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 71 



ing season, the seed may not germinate at all, or the young 

 seedlings may be killed before they have time to send their 

 roots down to the permanent moisture level. In such situa- 

 tions, planting is the only reliable method. If the plant ma- 

 terial is of the proper kind and the work well done, satisfac- 

 tory results are almost certain to follow. Direct seeding is a 

 much more rapid method than planting, and where extensive 

 areas are to be restocked within a short period and seed is 

 abundant, the work can be completed quickly. On the other 

 hand, this method is wasteful of seed because a large propor- 

 tion fails to germinate and the young seedlings often suc- 

 cumb to adverse conditions, so that where seed is scarce or its 

 cost high, planting is the more practical method. 



Because planting is the most reliable method it has been 

 the one most largely employed in extensive operations, both 

 here and in most European countries, but thorough tests are 

 now being made of direct seeding and under proper condi- 

 tions it promises to be fairly satisfactory. The Douglas fir 

 region west of the Cascade Mountains offers the most favor- 

 able conditions for direct seeding and except on badly exposed 

 south slopes, or where the growth of brush is exceedingly 

 dense, it is believed this method will prove a satisfactory one 

 for the timber owner to employ. 



In the yellow pine regions conditions are not so satisfactory 

 for direct seeding, since this tree occurs largely in a region of 

 deficient rainfall: However, natural reproduction is abun- 

 dant throughout many portions of this type, and it is prob- 

 able that direct seeding will prove fairly successful if the 

 proper methods are employed and if .forest conditions have 

 not been too greatly disturbed. That some method of suc- 

 cessfully employing direct seeding with yellow pine be found 

 is greatly to be desired, since yellow pine seedlings do- not 

 withstand transplanting well, but there is need for careful 

 experimentation before extensive seeding operations in this 

 type by private timber owners would be justifiable. 



Western white pine, it is believed, will be easy to repro- 

 duce in most of its native situations by direct seeding, though 



