118 RICHARD SCHMITT 



Since in well managed stands the mean annual growth culminates at 

 55 to 70 years, rotations of 80 to 120 years seem desirable. This coin- 

 cides with average rotation ages used in European temperate-zone forests, 



Consequently, the total yield of eastern white pine--50% from 

 thinnings--far surpasses that of all European forest trees. Figure 2 

 (also from Eckstein) shows the total yield of even aged stands on the 

 rocky, sandy soils of the Odenwald Mountains, compared with Scotch pine 

 and Norway spruce. The three conifers are introductions in this old 

 beech-forest country. 



OTHER WHITE PINES 



Among the other white pines Pinus griffithii McClell. (syn. P. 

 wallichiana A. B. Jacks.) has been planted in some stands in the southern 

 Odenwald Mountains and near the Baltic Sea in northern Germany (Schenk, 

 1939) . The tree never has approached the growth of eastern white pine 

 and it has not proved to be hardy enough under the average middle- 

 European climatic conditions. Stands in the Odenwald Mountains were 

 mostly killed by frost in the winter of 1946-47 (Rossm^ssler, 1954). 

 Cieslar (1901) thought it useful for the southern parts of Europe. 

 Vivani (1962) reports a test with 9 provenances of this Himalayan white 

 pine and mentions the poor timber form of this tree. 



CONCLUSIONS 



Eastern white pine has been grown in European forests for more than 

 two centuries. It proved to be essential for reforestation aimed toward 

 recovering impoverished soils. Besides this, the attributes of eastern 

 white pine for contributing to increased growth of other conifers in 

 mixed stands, as well as of deciduous trees (growth of "the poplar 

 between the conifers", Wappes, et al. s 1935), is so important that the 

 species' overall qualities more than balance its weak points. 



If we could succeed in controlling blister rust, eastern white pine 

 would become one of the most important trees of the European forests. 



SUMMARY 



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 eastern white pine (P. 

 strobus) . This tree showed good qualities and proved to be well adapted 

 to the climate of the deciduous forest zones of western Europe, especially 

 in the warmer parts having a more continental climate. 



In this region eastern white pine is completely hardy, withstands 

 late frosts, grows on difficult soils, and is easily regenerated 

 naturally. It is a half-tolerant tree and especially adapted for com- 

 peting in mixtures with hardwoods. The dead needles enrich devastated 

 soils and keep weeds down. Stem forms are good and the growth is excel- 

 lent; in fact, no European forest tree will bring a higher yield on any 

 site. 



