GROWTH, MANAGEMENT. 17 
ESTABLISHMENT OF SEEDLINGS. 
Sitka spruce germinates slowly, and in this habit it is similar 
to other low-altitude species of the coastal region, and in contrast 
with Engelmann spruce and high-altitude Douglas fir, which re- 
quire only a short time for germination. Similarly, Sitka spruce 
seedlings do not respond quickly to atmospheric warmth early in 
the spring, and their buds do not unfold until the season is well ad- 
vanced. Were it not for this characteristic much injury to re- 
production would result, for during early spring clear, warm weather 
in the lowlands is often followed by killing frosts. 
Moisture, light, and heat are all essential for the germination and 
establishment of spruce seedlings; but, as moisture is abundantly 
supplied by rains and fogs in the region, and as the young seedlings 
are capable of enduring dense shade, heat is the uncertain factor. 
In this regard the warm exposures of old burns, clearings, and 
logged-over lands offer conditions more suitable for growth than 
elsewhere, and, as spruce can compete successful^ with all other 
species, it establishes itself with little difficulty on these sites. In 
the choice of seed bed, Sitka spruce prefers loose mineral soil, but 
it can thrive equally well in the decayed wood of down logs and in 
the deep humus of the forest floor. Plate IX, figure 2, illustrates 
the establishment of two spruce trees on an old windfall. Because 
of its extreme tolerance in early youth, Sitka spruce sometimes occurs 
on fresh earth slides, under a temporary cover type of alder, and 
eventually becomes the predominating species. 
Stands of reproduction in the spruce type are densely stocked. 
(Pis. XIV and XV.) Counts were made during the recent field 
study on 10 square-rod quadrates in areas of reproduction, and these 
counts showed that in thrifty stands under 10 years old there were 
3.000 seedlings per acre, and that in stands 30 years old there were 
500 trees per acre. Nearly one-quarter of the 30-year-old trees were 
12 inches and over in diameter at breastheight. It was also shown 
that a stand of maximum density, which was 5 years old, contained 
35.000 seedlings per acre. In each of these stands 50 per cent or 
more was spruce, and the remainder was mostly hemlock, with a 
few cedar and Douglas fir trees. In very dense stands Sitka spruce 
seedlings generally comprise only 10 to 20 per cent, but this per- 
centage often increases as the stands become older. Under ordinary 
circumstances spruce is able to maintain itself and even increase 
notwithstanding the competition of other species. These seedlings, 
which are rather delicate and slender stemmed during the first few 
years, later develop heavy, stiff stems. They at first average nearly 
one-half foot in height growth per year and beyond 15 years of 
age increase in height at the rate of 3 feet per year. 
85569—22 3 
