Managing Editor's Comments on Volume 51(1)
This issue of Tree Planters' Notes has some very interesting articles that
cover the whole range of issues related to nurseries, reforestation, and plant
propagation. You will find some history, a little politics, and even facts you
might not have known. Below is a short synopsis of some of the very interesting
articles that await you.
David South's "Tree Planting in the United States" provides quite
a lesson in the history of tree planting. For instance, I had no idea there
were only 154,600 hectares of plantations in the United States in 1925.
In Methyl Bromide Use... Chuck Masters writes a wonderful article that might
have been entitled everything you need to know about methyl bromide. Methyl
bromide was for a long time the magic bullet that fixed many of our pathogen
and weed problems.
For those that like good solid scientific research that expands their horizons,
Weiland and coauthors report on a test of the validity of screening poplar clones
that assures us of the importance of screening plants.
Hot air cleaning in styrofoam containers by Bob James and Andy Trent could not
be more timely. They found that radio frequency waves and hot air were effective
only on prewetted containers heated under high humidity.
C.S. Papadopol's "Determination of Soil Hydraulic Conductivity in Nurseries
and Plantations" gives a brief review the Guelph Permeameter: device description,
method of use, and an illustration of its ecological usefulness.
Arnulfo Andrete and John Mexal teamed up to provide very interesting insights
into sowing depth and how it impacts three pine species. This is an interesting
article about the importance of change in nursery systems.
From Russia there is A.M. Kryshen's, "Effect of Weeds on the Survival and
Growth of Scots Pine Seedlings." In forest nurseries in Republic of Karelia
(Russia), they have 100 species of weeds to control. Since we all have the same
issue with weeds, it is a small world.
Do you like roots research? Wiese and coauthors offer up plans an inexpensive
rhizotron design. This paper has plans. If any of you decide to use the plans
and actually do build one of these rhizotrons, I would love some follow up comments
that I will put into a future issue of TPN.
In another paper from Mexico, Dominguez and coauthors write about factors influencing
the quality of nursery seedlings of Pinus pseudostrobus. They tested germination
and survival in five container types and three substrates.
In David South's article on pull-up and leave-down, you will find a wonderful
bit of reforestation philosophy. It would appear that not all things intuitive
are correct, even though they may provide us with a warm feeling of common sense.
Enjoy this issue. There is much to learn and I hope that future issues will
continue to enlighten, challenge, and teach all of us how to start forests.
As you go about your tree planting remember the first paragraph of Jean Giono's
book, The Man Who Planted Trees:
For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have
the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If this
performance is devoid of egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity,
if it is absolutely certain that there is no thought of recompense and that,
in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be
no mistake.
Robin Rose
Managing Editor
Tree Planters' Notes
