Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-11-19
BALM Kernehel 3ournal.
The Succession of Forest Growth

To the Editor of the Kennebee Journal:
In regard to the paragraph concerning
the succession of forest trees which ap-
peared in your paper of November Sd, |
beg to say, that it is well known fact
that the oak will make vigorous growth,
when succeeding the white pine on land
which was too poor to produce anything
better than scrub oak when the pine
| growth started. This fact shows that land
is enriched rather than impoverished by
the growth of white pine forests. These
I trees draw less from the mineral elements
of the soil than any other of our valuable
forest trees. The specific gravity OF the
white pine is 0.3842 and its average per-
centaee of ash 0.l9. Out of more than
400 different kinds of trees found in the
United States whose specific gravity and
percentage of ash are known, only ID
kinds have the same or less percentage Of
ash. and there are only II kinds that
weigh less per cubic foot
| have frequently seen young white pine
trees making quite vigorous growth IN
land which was bare of all other vegeta-
ton. From this fact. it would seem that
the principal influence Of the soil upon
this tree, is to give it support while it
draws its nourishmont, chiefly, from the
atmosphere.
! think then, that the oak succeeds the
pine. not on account of the exhaustion Of
any elements in the soil by the growth of
the pine thereon, but from the fact that it
gained foothold among the pines before
their removal.
Squirrels plant the acorns, oftentimes, far
distant from the parent trees. These will
spring up and make feeble growth in a
shade which is too dense to allow of the
young pines growing at all, and being
often browsed by animals, it may be, are
dwarfed in size, but they are very tena-
cious of life Oak trees have been known
to be 20 years old and scarcely high
enough to be noticed unless one were look
ing for them. But after the pines are re-
moved they will start and grow rapidly,
from the fact that they are so well rooted.
When the pines fail to put in an appear
ance with the oak, think it will be found
that the pine growth was cut in year
when there was but little if any seed. In
! yuh 70 10 70
valling growth and deciduous trees are
few and far between, pines succeed pines
and each succeeding growth is more Wig
orous than the one which preceded it, il
| fire does not intervene to prevent it. This
is the experience in some portions Of
Europe, where pine forests are known &c
have succeeded each other for severa
centuries with constantly increas
/ ing vigor. In seasons when the
pines bear but few cones and squirrels are
numerous, but little seed would come tt
maturity. Squirrels commence eating
these seeds about the last of July. On,
of them will destroy several cones in /,
day. In plentiful wears of seed have
seen the ground under the pines covered
with the scales of the pine cones Ions
before the seeds were ripe.
From all these facts, then, we infer tina
the rotation of species of trees when fir
and browsing animals are lett out of tb
question, depends more upon shade ant
seed than upon any other cause.
Yours, very truly,
JOHN f. HOBBS