SILVICULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS 



39 



growth of pine following the cutting of pine, and at other times 

 there is no growth at all. 



Cones are often formed on very young pine trees, but until 

 the trees become thirty years old there is either no seed in these 

 cones, or the seed is liable to be sterile. 



By permission of Ike U . i>. Forest Service. 



Fig. 13. — Windfalls as the result of planting white pine on low, wet ground where the 

 drainage is insufficient. 



The white pine is very indifferent in its demands upon soil 

 and moisture and thrives on all but the driest of New England's 

 sandy plains; it will grow also on hummocks, in swamps, even 

 with clay substratum. However, it makes its best development 

 on a fairly moist loam soil. In regard to light, it is more exact- 

 ing. Under a light shade the seedhngs will exist for several 

 years, but they will make little growth and in a heavy wood are 

 sure to succumb. The rate of growth, as with all species, de- 

 pends upon conditions. On the whole, it is the most rapid 

 growing native tree of New England, and usually averages over 

 a foot a year in height. The annual height growth is sometimes 

 over three feet, and the diameter growth is proportionately large. 



