44 REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 



loose rock. On all but the steep slopes, where erosion has taken place, 

 exposing the rocks, a light soil with some humus covers the area. 

 At the time of sowing the ground cover which had come in since 

 the fire, consisting chiefly of dead fern and fireweed of the previous 

 season's growth, was rather dense in the northern end of the tract, 

 while elsewhere were patches of moss. The ground cover was thick- 

 est, of course, on the steep south slope. 



The region is one of heavy precipitation, except during July, 

 August, and September. The tract was sown to Douglas fir on Novem- 

 ber 10, 1909, and sowing was done in three strips, in one of which the 

 seed was sown broadcast, 5 J pounds per acre ; in the second, 3J pounds 

 per acre ; while in the third the seed-spot method was used. In this 

 last the spots were spaced 7 by 7 feet and from 15 to 20 seeds sown 

 per spot, or at the rate of four-ninths of a pound per acre. There 

 was about a foot of fresh snow on the unfrozen ground, and in pre- 

 paring the spots this was dug away so as to expose the mineral soil 

 on a spot of about 1 foot in diameter. The seed was covered to a 

 depth of about one-quarter of an inch. In August, 1910, after the 

 dry season was practically over, four sample areas, each about 6 

 feet square, were measured in the first strip. In one 12 seedlings were 

 found, in another 13, in a third 19, and in a fourth 32. The average 

 number of seedlings per acre was therefore 22,990. No count was 

 made on the second strip, but on the third strip, which was sown with 

 the seed-spot method, 25 spots were examined. The maximum num- 

 ber of seedlings in any one spot was 4, while in 7 of the 25 spots ex- 

 amined no seedlings had come up. For all 25 spots the average num- 

 ber of seedlings was 1.72, making an average per acre of 1,527. In 

 comparing these results with those from the strip broadcasted, it 

 should be remembered that only four-fifths of a pound, or 19,000 seed, 

 were sown to the acre. Its per cent of germination, as determined in 

 the Forest Service testing laboratory, was 77. 



SIUSLAW NATIONAL FOREST, OREGON. 



In the fall of 1909 and the spring of 1910 a tract of over 1,300 

 acres on the Siuslaw National Forest was sown to Douglas fir. This 

 tract, which is a part of a large burned district, was once heavily 

 timbered with Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, and western red cedar. The 

 topography is typical of the entire Coast Range, being moderately 

 rough, but not excessively rugged. The soil, except in numerous 

 spots where shale predominates, is a reddish loam. The severe fires 

 of the past have apparently removed much of the original plant food 

 contained in the soil, since numerous attempts to farm the land have 

 proved unsuccessful. The tract, which is known as the Mount Hebo 

 sowing area, has an altitude of about 1,500 feet. 



