Fremont is 84 inches D.B.H. 

 6. Reproduction. 



The Western Yellow Pine is a very pro- 

 lific seeder, especially trees grown in the open 

 and along the edge of the desert. Some seed is 

 produced locally every year. Heavy seed crops 

 throughout the forest occur every 4 or 5 years, 

 except that on trees along the edge of the forest 

 no seed is borne on trees younger than 12^ years. 

 The cones are quite persistent, remaining on the 

 tree for practically a year after maturity so that 

 all the seed is disseminated before the cones fall 

 to the ground. W:'.r.d is the chief agent in distri- 

 bution of the se<2cU Yellow Pine seed, evidently 

 carried by wind, has bstai found 250 yards from any 

 seed tree. Chipmunks and squirrels distribute con- 

 siderable seed in the forest, but do not aid any in 

 the extension of the natural forest out in the open- 

 ings. Contrary to conditions in the pumice soil 

 coimtry, the squirrels do not bury snail parcels 

 of 5 to 100 seeds in the soil but instead store 

 their food supplies in decayed sturips and rocks 

 and in many cases carry the whole cones a.nd de- 

 posit them in springs or protected places in creeks 

 so as to keep the cones closed until they are eaten. 



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