A ]\I E K I C A N SYLVICULTURE 



must be well ventilated. Seed years occur in the South every three 

 years — in the North, say, every seven years. Mulching before 

 planting, in case of direct seeding in spring, is absolutely necessary. 

 Germination after three to four Aveeks; seven to ten cotyledons, 

 primordial leaves singly. Seedlings suffer still more from fungi 

 (honey fungus) than Yellow Pines. Owing to the high price of 

 seeds of White Pine, the seed is usually planted in niu'series, and 

 not in the woods. At Biltmore, planting of seed in patches with 

 the rake without preceding preparation of soil, under light cover, 

 has proven a failure. White Pine does well on abandoned fields 

 after fires, — except on East and Southeast slopes where flat-rooted 

 plants are apt to be lifted by frost. Germinating percentage up to 

 90%. Seeds cost about $1..50 per pound. 



E. Hemlock. 



Seeds mature toward the end of September, are very small and 

 easily removed. Seedlings are very shade bearing and minute. 

 Hemlock cannot be grown in the open. Price of seed being high 

 and natural regeneration being easy, seed plantations will not be 

 made on a large scale. Price of seeds: canadensis, $3.50; hete- 

 rophylla, $8.00; mcrtensiana, $5.50 per pound. 



F. liarcli. 



Tlie cones are very tough and not easily opened by heat. It is 

 hard to separate the wing from the seed. The germinating per- 

 centage is low. The seed is planted in spring on open ground, 

 usually in patches, mixed with Pines, Spruces or Hardwoods. The 

 planting of seed of northern Tamarack in northern swamps is out 

 of the question. The height growth in early youth is rapid. 

 Larch puts heavy demand on light. Cotyledons, five to seven in 

 number, appear four weeks after planting. The seeds are mulched 

 in cold water for at least a week before planting. The primordial 

 leaves stand singly; brachj'blasts are formed from the third sum- 

 mer on. Y'oung shoots never show brachyblasts. Price of seeds: 

 European Larch, .50 cents per pound; Japanese Larch (leptolepis) 

 $2.50 per pound. 



G. Douglas Fir. 



It had better be called Pseudoabies than Pseudotsuga. Cones 

 are ripe in October; bracts are twice as long as scales; seeds fall 

 immediately after maturing in fall. Germinating percentage is 20 

 to 30 i)er cent.; seed received from dealers is apt to lie over. Thor- 

 ough mulching or hot-house ti'eatment (after Weise) increases the 

 percentage and the rapidity of sproxiting. Germination takes place 

 70 



