54 REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FOKESTS. 



sirable. Their growth is moderately rapid, and they do well on a variety of 

 soils. They are subject to insect attacks, 1 and for this reason it is well to 

 plant them in mixture with other species. If they are to grow to a considerable 

 age they should be underplanted with a tolerant species, such as sugar maple 

 or beech. 



The nuts are borne abundantly and are easy to collect. The young seedlings 

 develop a long taproot, so that except where there is great danger from rodents 

 the nuts should be field planted direct in seed spots. 



LODGEPOLE PINE (Pinus murrayana). 



This is the most typical tree of the Rocky Mountains. It reaches only a 

 small size, but grows rather rapidly, considering the climate, and produces 

 dense stands of straight trees admirably adapted for many purposes. Lodge- 

 pole pine forms a valuable protection forest at moderate and high elevations 

 from southern California to the Canadian boundary. It bears moderate quanti- 

 ties of seed, and the cones are persistent, often remaining unopened, with the 

 seed fertile, for years. It is possible, therefore, to obtain the cones in large 

 quantities. Opening the cones and extracting the seed has so far proved very 

 difficult and expensive, bringing the cost of the seed up to about $4 a pound. 

 Individual seeds are very small, running about 100,000 to the pound. The 

 germination per cent is fairly high, so that but 2 or 3 pounds of seed per acre is 

 required even in broadcast sowing; where the seed-spot method is used less 

 will suffice. Sowing has proved successful in freshly burned-over areas, and 

 it is believed that the species can be reproduced extensively by direct seeding 

 where conditions are favorable. Lodgepole pine seed should be obtained in 

 much greater quantities in the future than in the past. 



NORWAY SPRUCE (Picea excelsa), 



This tree should be a very valuable substitute for red spruce in. the making 

 of pulp, since it grows much faster and produces equally good fiber. It is 

 adapted to the northern United States. Its growth is rapid, and it produces 

 dense stands, which can be used either for lumber or for pulp. It is also useful 

 for reforesting watersheds. It grows on a great variety of soils, and does best 

 where there is plenty of rainfall. Fungi are not a serious menace. 



Norway spruce may be propagated by sowing in seed spots or by planting 

 young trees. It grows well in pure stands, but may be used in mixture with 

 white pine or other similar species. It is recommended for reforestation on 

 fresh soils throughout the northern United States, and especially in the Supe- 

 rior National Forest, Minnesota, and the northern Rocky Mountains. 



RED OAK (Quercus rubra). 



Red oak is one of the most desirable species of hardwoods for reforestation 

 purposes. It is a rapid grower, long-lived, attains large dimensions, and pro- 

 duces a heavy, hard, coarse-grained, strong, and moderately durable wood. Its 

 natural range is from Nova Scotia to eastern Kansas and south to northern 

 Georgia. In this general region it can be successfully planted, preferably on 

 porous, sandy, or gravelly clay soils. It can be grown in pure stands, but will 

 also do well in mixture with sugar maple, white elm, chestnut, white pine, 

 hickories, and with other oaks. 



Red oak can best be propagated by sowing the acorns directly on the area 

 to be planted, since nursery-grown seedlings develop a large taproot and are 

 difficult to transplant. The acorns should be planted in well -prepared seed 



1 Yearbook, Department of Agriculture, 1903, p. 314. 



