INTRINSIC QUALITIES, ACCLIMATISATION, AND GROWTH POTENTIAL 

 OF WHITE PINES INTRODUCED INTO EUROPE, 

 WITH EMPHASIS ON PINUS STROBUS 



Richard Schmitt 



Forest Faculty, University of GQttingen s Gottingen 3 Germany 



ABSTRACT 



Since the European forests are composed of relatively few tree 

 species, early attempts were made to enrich them with fast 

 growing exotics. One of the first to be introduced was the 

 eastern white pine {Pinus strobus) . This species showed good 

 qualities and proved to be well adapted to the climate of the 

 deciduous forests of western Europe, especially in the warmer 

 parts with a more continental climate. 



In eastern Europe forests the eastern white pine is completely 

 hardy, withstands late frosts; grows on difficult soils, and 

 reproduces itself naturally with ease. It is a semi-tolerant 

 tree and thus is especially adapted for use in mixtures with 

 hardwoods. Its dead needles enrich devastated soils and keep 

 weeds down. Stem forms are good and growth is excellent--no 

 European forest tree will give a higher yield on any site. 



It is heavily damaged by game animals, by the honey fungus 

 (Armillaria melted) , and by the blister rust fungus (Cronartium 

 ribioola) . 



Extent of European P. strobus plantings may be estimated to 

 6,400 ha, most of it in West Germany with a center in Hesse, 

 middle Germany, and in Austria. Moreover, it is found in 

 mixed forests on more than 20,000 ha. In the last decades 

 the establishment of new stands of this valuable species was 

 curtailed because of the danger of blister rust. 



The introduction of certain provenances of the eastern white 

 pine to the higher mountains (i.e., higher than 600 m above sea 

 level) was a failure; the trees grew poorly and were heavily 

 damaged by ice. 



Other introduced white pines occupy only a negligible area. 

 Pinus griffithii (syn. P. walliohiana) is not hardy enough for 

 northern and central Europe, but perhaps will grow in the warmer 

 southern parts. Pinus montioola proved to be as slow growing as 

 P. peuoe under average European conditions. 



Ill 



