Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 37 



During the winter of 1940-41 four small plots whose aggregate area 

 totals 4.24 acres were cut over, leaving 40 scattered trees per acre to 

 grow until the next cutting period. The stumps sprouted vigorously, and 

 this winter an examination of about 100 stumps was made. 



It is evident that the sprouting ability of the different species varies 

 widely. The height attained the first year appears to be good, three or 

 four feet in some cases, but it is obvious that this cannot be kept up for 

 any length of time. It is also evident that there must be a tremendous 

 mortality among the sprouts. A study should reveal when the mortality 

 occurs and what the per cent is with the different species and the different 

 sizes of stumps. 



Similar cuttings are being made this year on six acres of sprout hard- 

 wood land, and we plan to include these in the investigation of sprouting 

 ability. 



Series G: Seed Tests, 1938 to date. So much of this project in- 

 volves seedlings that the investigation naturally includes a study of the 

 characteristics of tree seeds. Such items as the average weight of a 

 thousand seeds, number of seeds per pound, viability as shown by simple 

 tests, and the behavior when planted in the nursery have been under ob- 

 servation for some time. All the early records were destroyed by fire, 

 but since then we have been accumulating data on most of the seeds 

 used in the nursery. To a large extent these deal with exotic species, 

 mostly conifers, but within the last year we have started working with 

 local trees, emphasizing deciduous species about which little information 

 has been published. (Clark L. Stevens) 



White Pine Stands 



This project has also been given some thought, and we have made a 

 tentative division into sections, some of which include experiments which 

 will require a longer period for their completion than others. We feel, 

 however, that each of these sections is of a rather fundamental nature 

 and has a distinct bearing on the problem of the proper management of 

 white pine stands. 



Section A is devised to determine the quantity and quality of seed 

 produced by stands of white pine at various stages of development. Sev- 

 eral permanent plots of from ^4 to 1 acre m even-aged thrifty stands, 

 stocking 0.8 to 1.0, at least 80 per cent white pine, from 20 to 60 years 

 old will be selected. All mature cones from each plot will be collected 

 annually, and the quantity recorded. Similar studies will be made with 

 5 to 10 individual trees over a period of years, separating the cones from 

 the upper, middle, and lower third of the living crown. These seeds 

 will be extracted, cleaned, measured, and tested in various ways. 



Section B involves an attempt to determine costs and results of the 

 various intermediate cuttings in stands of white pine. 



On all immature stands of white pine in the University forest, re- 

 cords of intermediate cuttings with the man-hours involved and the pro- 

 duction were obtained. The date, area, location, age, and condition of 

 the stands treated will be recorded as well as the condition one, two, five, 

 and ten years after the treatment. 



