Some planting effects still significant after 20 years

A 1953 planting of unrefrigerated storage of 2-2 red pine contained tests of bales versus crates, and of two planting crews. Storage was to 31/2 weeks with plantings at 1/2 week intervals. Survival and diameter at 20 years have now been examined. Results show a decrease in survival with duration of holding, and an accompanying drop in basal area and volume, in spite of partially compensating increased diameters with lower densities. For one week of holding the loss of volume at 20 years was about 12%. Trees from crates survived about 12% better than those from bales, and achieved about 17% more volume at 20 years. Differences between planting crews, which did not show up in early survival or height, were significant in the 20th year diameters. One crew obtained about 14% better basal area and volume at 20 years than the other crew, through better planting.