UTILIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF LODGEPOLE PINE. 43 



recent burns or on other areas where the seed can easily reach the 

 mineral soil. In such cases, sowing should be done in late winter or 

 early spring, when the surface of the snow is thawing and the seed 

 will sink in, and preferably at a time when there is a likelihood of 

 another fall of snow. When the snow finally leaves the area, the 

 seed is washed into the soil, and conditions are favorable for early 

 germination. The seed is usually broadcasted at the rate of two 

 fertile seeds per square foot, equivalent to from 2 to 3 pounds of seed 

 per acre. 



Every area broadcasted with seed must be protected from rodents, 

 such as squirrels and field mice, until after the seed has germinated. 

 Many of the early failures in reforestation were due to the depreda- 

 tions of small rodents that devoured the seed as quickly as it was 

 sown. For this reason every seeded area should be poisoned as a 

 measure of protection. 1 This should be done several weeks before 

 the seed is sown, and preferably again after it is in the ground. The 

 seeded areas should also be protected against the grazing of live- 

 stock, and, after the small seedlings appear, against fire. 



In 1910, 630 acres in the three States of Colorado, Wyoming, and 

 Montana were reforested to lodgepole pine by direct seeding, at an 

 average cost of $10.77 per acre. In 1911, 640 acres in these States 

 were seeded at an average cost of $8.68 per acre. These costs are 

 abnormally high, since much of the work was experimental, and in 

 many cases unnecessarily large amounts of seed were used. Under 

 ordinary conditions it should be possible to carry on direct seeding 

 by the two methods described within the following limits of cost: 



Cost per acre. 



Seed spots. 



Broadcasting. 



Seed (at S2 per pound) . 



Seed sowing 



Poisoning rodents 



Total 



$1.00 to $2. 00 



2. 50 4. 50 



.10 .15 



$4. 00 to $6. 00 

 . 25 . 75 



.10 15 



3. 60 6. 65 



4.35 



Where the area to be seeded is very rough and steep, or is covered 

 with fallen timber or bowlders, the maximum costs just given may 

 sometimes be exceeded. In many cases, also, it will be necessary to 

 reseed certain portions of the area in order to secure a satisfactory 

 stand. Fail spots should not be reseeded, however, until two or 

 three years after the first sowing, since a portion of the original seed 

 often lies over for a year before germination. 



1 Information regarding the best methods of poisoning rodents is contained in Forest Service Bulletin 

 98, "Reforestation on the National Forests"; Bureau of the Biological Survey Circular 78, "Seed Eating 

 Mammals in Relation to Reforestation " ; and Farmers' Bulletin 484 , " Some Common Mammals of Western 

 Montana in Relation to Agriculture and Spotted Fever." 



