Stimulating Seed Production 



A considerable portion of the cutover longleaf pine area supports 

 scattered seed trees singly or in groups. Natural reseeding has failed, 

 in many cases, because good seed years have been few and far between. 

 There is hope, however, that these seed trees can be made to yield 

 larger and more frequent seed crops. The following treatments are 

 under test with both longleaf and slash pines: 



Partial girdling. Two half rings 

 are cut around the tree down to 

 the wood. The rings are about 

 1-1/2 inches wide and are placed 

 on opposite sides of the trunk, one 

 about 4 inches higher than the 

 other. 



Strangulation at stump height. A 

 tight metal band is bolted around 

 the tree about 12 inches above the 

 ground (fig. 9). 



Strangulation high on the bole . 

 Metal bands are bolted around the 

 tree in or just below the live 

 crown. 



Hormone treatment. A 0. 2-per- 

 cent solution of 2, 4-D is put into 

 an intermittent frill around the 

 tree about 2 feet above the ground. 



The first three of these 

 treatments have been used with 

 success in Europe. The hormone 

 treatment is new. The study was 

 installed in 1952. 



Figure 9. --Fastening a tight metal 

 band around the tree at stump height 

 seems to stimulate cone production. 

 (Photo by Elemore Morgan) 



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