DETAILS OF THE METHOD 113 



depended upon to reach maturity as they are apt to be affected 

 with decay from the mother root. 



It is important to know not only whether a species sprouts 

 but also where the sprouts originate from the stump or 

 from the roots, and if from the roots whether the root suckers 

 will grow to merchantable size. 



A species capable of reproducing by sprouts does not always 

 produce a satisfactory crop of sprouts. This variability in 

 sprout reproduction may be attributed to several factors of 

 which the three following are the most important: 



Age of the stump at time of cutting. 



Season of the year at which the cutting is performed. 



Height and character of the stumps left by the choppers. 



Age of the Stump at the Time of Cutting. As trees grow 

 older and enter the period of seed production their sprouting 

 ability gradually decreases. Beyond a certain age only a 

 few trees of a given species can be counted on to sprout after 

 cutting. The age varies considerably between species. White 

 oak in Connecticut sprouts feebly from stumps over 60 years 

 of age. Chestnut in Maryland reaches its limit of sprouting 

 ability at 120 years of age. 1 The thriftier the tree and the 

 nearer its maximum rate of growth when cut the better does 

 the stump sprout. This period of greatest thrift and highest 

 growth rate conies during the first part of the tree's life and 

 may be considered as passed by the thirtieth year. 



Season of the Year at which the Cutting is Performed. 

 The best time to do the cutting is in the period when the trees 

 are in the dormant condition. The presence of sap in the 

 wood at the time of cutting increases the liability of the stumps 

 and sprouts to suffer injuries such as tearing of bark, break- 

 ing off of sprouts and damage by frost. Zon l found that 

 winter cut chestnut sprouted best; then spring cut. 



