32 PLANTING OF WHITE PINE IN NEW ENGLAND. 



5, 000 seedlings from the pound. At this rate it would pay the planter 

 better to buy two-or three-year seedlings from a nursery or collect them 

 from the forest. White-pine seed costs from $1.50, when the seed is 

 plentiful, to $3 or $4 per pound during the period between good seed 

 years. "Seed years" occur once in four to seven years. Seed-bearing 

 cones are found usually in small numbers on scattered trees in the inter- 

 vals between seed years, and in some cases seed years occur locally in 

 the interval between general seed years. In such instances collectors 

 may take advantage of the local crop to secure large quantities. Since 

 white pine seed requires two years for development, it is possible to 

 predict a seed year twelve months previous to the time for collection. 

 Ample opportunity is thus given to prepare for planting when seed 

 may be obtained at the smallest cost to the planter. 



COLLECTING AND STORING SEED. 



The white pine cone opens and throws its seed before it falls from 

 the tree, consequently it is necessary to collect the cones before they 

 open. Different methods of collecting have been used in various 

 parts of the country. Until recent 3^ears, where the timber was 

 abundant, some collectors chopped the trees down; others lopped off 

 branches. In regions of less supply seed has been collected by the 

 use of "climbers" similar to those used by telegraph linemen. The 

 cones are then picked by hand, or the small branches bearing them 

 are cut with long-handled pruning shears. The quickest method is 

 that of chopping the trees and picking the cones by hand from the 

 fallen trees; but this should never be resorted to unless the trees are 

 mature and can immediately be used for lumber. In such instances it 

 is sometimes advisable to wait for a seed year before harvesting a crop 

 of timber. Lopping off large branches should never be resorted to 

 unless the branches be cut close to the stem, in which case the pruning 

 benefits the future timber, provided the crown is not robbed. Where 

 trees have large crowns the tips of the lateral branches may be removed 

 with pruning shears without injury to the trees, but the upper part of 

 the crown should never be disturbed except by hand picking. A long 

 pole, with a sharp, curved steel knife at the end, may be used to advan- 

 tage in picking cones which can not be reached readily by hand. It is 

 usually possible to obtain seeds most easily from trees which are 

 grown in open fields or along roadsides, for in such places the crowns 

 have a better opportunity for development, the trees are lower and 

 more dense, and they bear more and frequently better seed. 



Seed should be stored in a cool, dry place, in small bags suspended 

 in the air. Light freezing is not injurious, but heavy freezing should 

 be guarded against. 





