The lower germination in the pine- influenced treatments was probably due to cooler 

 temperatures, as a result of shading, when moisture conditions were favorable. The 

 organic matter could have created poor soil surface moisture conditions due to low water 

 potentials and to the large, irregular shapes which provided inadequate contact between 

 seeds and available moisture (Eyre and LeBarron 1944). Also, the amounts of far-red 

 light in the shade may have had an inhibitory effect on germination (Harrington 1977) . 

 In addition to these factors, the absence of a protective snow cover under the over- 

 story canopy may not have provided adequate overwintering conditions for seeds as was 

 found in the openings. The possibility also exists that a chemical germination inhibi- 

 tor could be subtly involved. Kelsey and Harrington (1979) found that soils from under 

 pine canopies reduced ponderosa seed germination in the greenhouse compared to that in 

 opening soils. 



The germination rates, represented by the slopes of the curves, are shown in 

 figure 3. Germination rates in the opening-cleared and opening-litter treatments 

 averaged 18 seeds per day while that in the opening-natural treatment was 11 seeds per 

 day. The fire, the litter, the near, and the stemflow plots had similar rates, averag- 

 ing 7-8 seeds per day. The slowest rates occurred in the canopy treatment, with two 

 seeds per day and the natural treatment with just over one seed germinating per day. 



'Exguve 3. — Seed gemrination per treatment 



