4. Patrol the seeded area each day for several weeks, 



especially during very early morning and late evening, 

 to prevent bird concentrations and to detect other 

 animals that may be destroying seeds. Special 

 control measures can be undertaken if needed. Grazing 

 animals should be excluded for several years, or until 

 the seedlings are high enough to escape trampling and 

 browsing damage. 



The total cost of seeding has run from $4. 50 to $8. 00 per acre, 

 depending on the type of seedbed, the price of seed, and the method of 

 distributing it. In contrast, it costs $10 to $16 per acre to plant long- 

 leaf seedlings (1, 200 per acre) on nearby areas of the Kisatchie 

 National Forest. 



Loblolly. - -Techniques for direct- seeding loblolly pine vary with, 

 cover conditions. So far the best procedure for open grassy areas is to 

 burn the grass in April or May, and then, in late summer, to disk strips 

 6 to 8 feet wide and about 6 feet apart. 



From the experience of the Alexandria Research Center, it 

 appears that seed should be cold- stratified for about 90 days at 35°F„ , 

 so that it will germinate promptly. (Tests of individual lots of seed, 

 however, may indicate different treatment. ) The seed should be sown 

 in late February or early March, on disked strips, at the rate of 1 

 pound per acre. Since seedlings that germinate in fall are killed by 

 freezing weather, fall sowing has not been successful., Disking is 

 necessary because the newly germinated seedlings are unable to com- 

 pete with the grass. 



On upland sites dominated by low-grade hardwoods, the best 

 method so far is to sow one pound of unstratified seed per acre on a 

 fresh burn in early November. The seed will not germinate until 

 spring, and falling leaves will conceal most of it from birds and 

 rodents. 



Slash. - -Slash pine seeding studies have not yet reached the 

 point where recommendations can be made. However, it has been 

 determined that slash seedlings can withstand freezing temperatures 

 and can come through on undisked grassy areas. This may mean that 

 slash can be sown in the fall, when both birds and rodents are less of a 

 problem than in the spring. 



- 11 - 



