20 BULLETIN 244 ; XT. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 
stands seed is produced at intervals throughout life after about the 
thirtieth year. In crowded stands seed production is confined to 
the larger dominant trees and is deferred until about 40 years. 
SPROUT OR COPPICE REPRODUCTION. 
Short-leaf pine sprouts vigorously, and thus reproduces itself if 
killed back during the period of early life. This period fortunately 
is the time of greatest susceptibility to injury both by fire and various 
mechanical agencies. Its range over the drier uplands is coincident 
with a region of frequent forest fires, yet it is saved by notably 
abundant reproduction practically everywhere. Of the important 
commercial pines in the United States shortleaf alone possesses this 
capacity of complete reproduction. 1 Afield investigation in 1912-13 
showed clearly that comparatively very few seedlings reach ages of 3 
to 6 years without being burned back, and that most forest stands 
have passed through this experience on repeated occasions. 
It has been found possible, although somewhat difficult, to trace 
the history of most stands and determine definitely their origin, 
whether of direct seedling or coppice growth. Thus, the majority 
of all standing shortleaf timber examined in various portions of 
Arkansas was found to be of coppice origin. In abandoned fields 
fire less frequently sweeps over young stands because of the fire pro- 
tection afforded by the naked soil. In spite of this, many old-field 
stands have suffered from at least one fire. Observation in Georgia, 
South Carolina, Virginia, and New Jersey showed that similar con- 
ditions exist throughout the geographical range of the species. The 
property of sprouting accounts for the remarkable aggressiveness of 
shortleaf pine over the region in the South most endangered by fire. 
Second-growth forests of the Piedmont and Appalachian regions have 
been subject to frequent fires during more than a century. As a 
general law, it may be stated that, in any specified locality, the pro- 
portion of shortleaf pine of seedling origin varies inversely as the 
frequence and general prevalence of fires. Stands of direct seedling 
origin are on the whole of insignificant area, because there are few 
localities protected against fire by natural barriers or by man. In 
one locality of optimum shortleaf development in Pike County, Ark., 
the only stands of direct seedling origin found were located in low, 
moist situations where burnings have been infrequent. Obviously 
the perfection of vigorous reproduction by coppice, though limited 
to early years, is of high importance in the profitable management 
of a forest species. Since the occurrence of a commercial coniferous 
forest largely of coppice origin is very unusual in any other species, 
a discussion of the function of coppicing, the sprouting capacity of 
the tree, and the way in which the sprouts are produced is of interest. 
1 Other pines which to a greater or less degree sprout when young are pitch pine (P. rigida), pond pine 
(P. serotina), and Pinus chihuahuana along the Mexican border. 
