WHAT KIND OF SEEDLINGS DID YOU PLANT ON MY LAND?
We sometimes get this question from landowners after they inspect the planting and see small tufts of green needles sticking out of the ground. We can't blame them for wondering if the seedlings were really bigger, as morphologically improved seedlings should be.
The answer we give them is typified by this letter from Ken Singleton, Nursery Manager, International Forest Company, Buena Vista, Georgia:
"The morphologically improved 2nd generation loblolly pines that your company has purchased from IFCO were grown in a density to achieve an average root collar diameter of 5.5 to 6.0 mm or larger and with average root length of 5.5 to 6.0 inches and shoot length of 11.5 to 12.0 inches. In addition to a lower density, these seedlings received extra fertilization throughout the growing season. These seedlings are being packed 500 per bundle because of the larger caliper seedlings to achieve the most accurate bundle count possible.
"The following trees product code 239713, 2nd generation coastal, were lifted November 19th with an average RCD of 5.4 mm, 12.0 inches shoot length, and 6.1 inches root length. On December 3rd we lifted 2nd generation Piedmont, product code 239720, average RCD of 7.0 mm, shoot length 12.6 inches, and root length of 6.2 inches. This is an average RCD 6.2 mm, root length of 6.15 inches, and shoot length of 12.3 inches."
For very good reasons, doctors take the temperature of and keep charts on patients in a hospital. For equally good reasons, we caliper RCD in every bundle and keep charts on our patients in the field.
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