PINUS STROBUS IN EUROPE 115 



The sum of 6,400 ha, with the addition of about 1,600 ha net area 

 in the mixed stands, can only be expressed in ppm of the 136,000,000 ha of 

 European forests. But things look different in Germany where the per- 

 centage of the white pine area is a little more (0.05%), and in Hesse 

 where 0.2% is reached. In southern Hesse (Hesse-Darmstadt), between the 

 rivers Main and Neckar, 1.3% of the forested area is occupied by white 

 pine (Eckstein, in press). In one southern district (Forstamt) of Hesse- 

 Darmstadt the area reaches 7.5%. 



The statement of Buchanan (1964, p. 103), that in Austria there occur 

 750,000 acres of P. strobus (or almost 10% of the forested area) , is 

 nearly six hundred fold too high. Even if we consider only Upper Autria 

 where more than nine-tenths of the Austrian white pines are growing, the 

 percentage will scarcely reach 0.1 and not almost 10. 



SILVIOJLTTJRAL QUALITIES OF EASTERN WHITE PINE 



White pine has been planted over a wide range of European forest 

 sites. It is well adapted to the warmer temperate region (Mondino and de 

 Vecchi Pellati, 1960). However, in the northern boreal zone as well as 

 mountainous regions of more than about 600 m above sea level it is mal- 

 adapted; there the growth is poor and top breakage will occur after icing 

 of the crowns and following heavy snowfall (Rohmeder, 1931; Rannert, 

 1959a, b) . The tree has shown satisfactory growth on rocky slopes and 

 good performance in wet bog^ (MUller, 1937). Best development, however, 

 is made on moist loamy sands (Badoux, 1929) . 



In Germany it has been used mostly to reforest impoverished soils 

 after coppice, overgrazing, or where there are very acid soils due to 

 presence of heather. Transplant stock 3 or 4 years old soon suppresses 

 the heather and other weeds of these acid soils. Needles that are shed 

 are rich in nutrients, and on warmer sites with sufficient moisture the 

 litter decomposes easily. A good humus layer is formed (Rohmeder, 1931; 

 Wappes et al. , 1935; RossmSssler, 1954). The improvement of worn out 

 soils also affects growth of other species. Jentsch (1955) compared pure 

 stands of Norway Spruce with others mixed with white pine. After 28 to 

 43 years the spruce in the mixed stands had grown the equivalent of more 

 than one site class better than in the pure stands. 



An intrinsic quality of P. strobus is its hardiness. It is not 

 damaged by late frosts and therefore especially suited to frost locali- 

 ties (Ernst, 1954; Hengst, 1959; Misson, 1962; Eckstein, in press). 



At places where no icing of the crowns occurs, the tree is markedly 

 resistant to snowbreak (Vanselow, 1927; Rossmassler, 1954; Eckstein, in 

 press) . This contrasts with experiences from the cooler climate of higher 

 regions . 



Another valuable feature of this introduction is--astonishing for 

 a pine--its tolerance. Tolerance is more pronounced in localities with 

 good water supplies than in drier ones. 



Natural regeneration is relatively easily obtained, provided the 

 water supply is sufficient (Vanselow, 1927; Wappes et al. s 1935; Berard, 

 1958; Pourtet, 1964; Eckstein, in press). Spring droughts* will kill 

 tender seedlings on more arid sites. 



