m 



furrows. It caused a rank growth 

 of weeds and grasses that retarded 

 the pine seedlings. Seedlings de- 

 veloped best on furrowed plots 

 that were sprayed and fertilized; 

 71 percent of the seedlings were 

 making height growth after 4 years 

 (fig. 6). The benefits of disking 

 and furrowing were lost on un- 

 sprayed plots because brown spot 

 infection built up more rapidly than 

 on the uncultivated plots. The 

 seedlings planted in the grass 

 rough and given no other treatment 

 were remarkably successful in 

 this test—over 50 percent were in 

 active height growth after 4 years. 



Another study is testing the 

 effect of clipping the needles on 

 longleaf planting stock or dipping 

 them in wax. The object is to re- 

 duce water losses through the 

 needles until the roots can recover 

 from transplanting. So far it 

 appears that clipping the needles to 

 a length of 5 inches distinctly improves survival in a dry year. Dipping 

 the needles in wax or other substances has sometimes increased survival 

 and sometimes reduced it. 



Figure 6. --These longleaf pine seed- 

 lings were planted 5 years ago. 

 The largest ones (row to left) were 

 sprayed with bordeaux mixture to 

 control the brown spot needle dis- 

 ease. (Photo by Elemore Morgan) 



Since large nursery seedlings often start height growth earlier 

 than small ones, special tests are under way on the production and plant- 

 ing of extra large seedlings. An attempt is also being made to find the 

 best age to burn longleaf seedlings for disease control. Observations 

 indicate that the first burn should be made 2 years after planting rather 

 than 3 years. 



Direct Seeding 



If all of the treeless longleaf land in Louisiana and Texas were 

 reforested by planting 1-year-old nursery seedlings, the job would take 

 50 years or more at the present rate. Because direct seeding promises 

 to be cheaper, faster, and more effective than planting, it has become a 



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