20 BULLETIN 244, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



stands seed is produced at intervals throughout life after about the 

 thirtieth year. In crowded stands seed production is confined to 

 the larger dominant trees and is deferred until about 40 years. 



SPROUT OR COPPICE REPRODUCTION. 



Shortleaf pine sprouts vigorously, and thus reproduces itself if 

 killed back during the period of early life. This period fortunately 

 is the time of greatest susceptibility to injury both by fire and various 

 mechanical agencies. Its range over the drier uplands is coincident 

 with a region of frequent forest fires, yet it is saved by notably 

 abundant reproduction practically everywhere. Of the important 

 commercial pines in the United States shortleaf alone possesses this 

 capacity of complete reproduction. 1 A field investigation in 1912-13 

 showed clearly that comparatively very few seedlings reach ages of 3 

 to 6 years without being burned back, and that most forest stands 

 have passed through this experience on repeated occasions. 



It has been found possible, although somewhat difficult, to trace 

 the history of most stands and determine definitely their origin, 

 whether of direct seedling or coppice growth. Thus, the majority 

 of all standing shortleaf timber examined in various portions of 

 Arkansas was found to be of coppice origin. In abandoned fields 

 fire less frequently sweeps over young stands because of the fire pro- 

 tection afforded by the naked soil. In spite of this, many old-field 

 stands have suffered from at least one fire. Observation in Georgia, 

 South Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey showed that similar con- 

 ditions exist throughout the geographical range of the species. The 

 property of sprouting accounts for the remarkable aggressiveness of 

 shortleaf pine over the region in the South most endangered by fire. 

 Second-growth forests of the Piedmont and Appalachian regions have 

 been subject to frequent fires during more than a century. As a 

 general law, it may be stated that, in any specified locality, the pro- 

 portion of shortleaf pine of seedling origin varies inversely as the 

 frequence and general prevalence of fires. Stands of direct seedling 

 origin are on the whole of insignificant area, because there are few 

 localities protected against fire by natural barriers or by man. In 

 one locality of optimum shortleaf development in Pike County, Ark., 

 the only stands of direct seedling origin found were located in low, 

 moist situations where burnings have been infrequent. Obviously 

 the perfection of vigorous reproduction by coppice, though limited 

 to early years, is of high importance in the profitable management 

 of a forest species. Since the occurrence of a commercial coniferous 

 forest largely of coppice origin is very unusual in any other species, 

 a discussion of the function of coppicing, the sprouting capacity of 

 the tree, and the way in which the sprouts are produced is of interest. 



1 Other pines which to a greater or less degree sprout when young are pitch pine (P. rigida), pond pine 

 (P. serolina), and Pinus chihuahuana along tho Mexican border. 



