SUMMARY 



Several major factors influencing natural regeneration in ponderosa pine forests 

 of western Montana were identified: 



1. During the 2-year developmental period, cone production was decreased to 6 

 percent of the original potential. Cone abortions and squirrel cutting accounted for 

 most of these losses. 



2. Stimulation of cone production was largely unsuccessful although young trees 

 did show a short-term favorable response to girdling. 



3. Seedfall for both species began about September 1 and was nearly complete by 

 the end of October. Weather conditions strongly influenced the time at which seeds 

 were disseminated. 



4. Seed overwintering in the duff was susceptible to large losses, primarily 

 from rodents. Of the dispersed seed, only about 12 percent of the pine and 7 percent 

 of the fir survived to germinate in the following spring. 



5. Pine seedling establishment was greatest on heavily scarified seedbeds during 

 the period studied but fir survived well on most seedbeds. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



To successfully regenerate cutover ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir stands, the 

 land manager must consider several alternatives. When thrifty advance regeneration of 

 Douglas-fir is already established, it can usually be cultured to form a vigorous new 

 stand, largely without pine. However, when restocking of ponderosa pine is desired, 

 the most reliable method is planting on adequately prepared sites. Where natural 

 regeneration of pine is desired, the following safeguards must be considered: 



1. Protect seed crops from squirrels. 



2. Reduce rodent population. 



3. Time site preparation to coincide with predicted cone crops. 



When any one of these recommendations are implemented, the land manager can expect 

 a corresponding increase in the number of established seedlings and in the percent of 

 milacres stocked. He can reasonably expect to control: (1) most squirrel depredations 

 by banding the seed trees; (2) 50 percent of the seed losses on the ground by control- 

 ling seed-eating rodents; and (3) 50 percent of the first-year seedling losses by thor- 

 ough site preparation. If this is done, then he may increase the number of surviving 

 seedlings about 14 times as shown in the hypothetical example (table 9, "Recommended 

 Management Conditions") . 



Successful application of all these recommendations could result in overstocking 

 that would require thinning, especially in years with above average summer rainfall. 

 However, land managers may want to take this gamble rather than risk inadequate stocking. 



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