Application. The field performance of Douglas-fir seedlings can be strongly influenced by their physiological condition when they are outplanted. Seedlings damaged or with low vigor have a much greater chance of dying in the field, or at best, of growing slowly during initial establishment. Being able to identify and discard lots of poor quality can help prevent plantation failures by eliminating seedlings that have little or no chance for acceptable field growth or survival. Three methods of evaluating seedlings were compared, and all successfully predicted field performance. If such evaluations were applied to screen seedling lots prior to planting (especially those suspected of injury), reforestation in the Douglas-fir region could be improved.Abstract. Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] seedlings were evaluated by three measurements of seedling quality -root growth potential or RGP, vigor, and plant moisture stress or PMS -and the results were correlated with subsequent field performance. Measurements made by each method were significantly (p_< 0.05) correlated with first-and second-year survival and terminal height growth. Seedlings from lots that grew many new roots during a 28-day interval in a growth room (RGP evaluation) or that survived for 6 weeks in the growth room and initiated rapid budburst (vigor evaluation) or whose plant moisture stress values remained fairly constant during 1 week after potting (PMS evaluation) had the greatest field survival and height growth.The RGP evaluation was the best predictor of first-year height growth, while the vigor evaluation was the best predictor of first-and second-year survival. All evaluations predicted second-year height growth equally well.These results demonstrate that all three evaluations can be successfully used to predict field performance of Douglas-fir seedlings. Each has its advantages and limitations, and none can be considered "best".

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Summary — Blue oak (Quercus douglasii Hook & Arn) acorns were germinated and divided into three groups or stock types. The first group was directly sown in the field; the second was sown into containers and grown for 4 months before outplanting; and the third was grown for a year before outplanting. In addition, each of these groups was further divided into three radicle pruning treatments: i) radicles left intact; ii) 2-3 mm cut from radicle tip; and iii) radicles pruned back to 1 cm. Results indicated that radicle pruning dramatically altered the morphology of container seedlings, but had almost no effect on field performance. Stock

The fifth oak symposium was designed to provide a forum for current research and outstanding case studies on oak woodland conservation and sustainability in California. The previous conferences-held in 1979, 1986, 1990, and 1996-serve as rich sources of information about a wide range of subjects on oak ecology, management, uses, planning and conservation. This conference is aimed at natural resource managers, researchers, policy makers, and public and private interest groups. Seventy-two papers are presented in the proceedings. Topics covered include: grazing relations, soil relations, Garry oak conservation, oak regeneration and restoration, fire relations, wildlife relations, urban forestry, oak woodland policy, genetic factors, monitoring, ecology, and a special session on "Sudden Oak Death."

Tree shelters have been used effectively in many locations to establish a wide range of tree species including oaks. However, their efficacy in Mediterranean climates like the hardwood rangelands of California has not been thoroughly tested. This study evaluated the field performance of blue oak (Quercus douglasii)—a species that is reported to be regenerating poorly in many locations in the state—protected by several sizes of tree shelters and compared response of directly sown acorns to that of 4-month-old transplants. After five growing seasons, seedlings in all sizes of tree shelters are larger than their unprotected counterparts. Tree shelters have been especially effective in promoting rapid height growth. However, regardless of tree shelter size, when seedlings grew above the tops of the shelters, average height growth diminished and diameter growth increased. Differences among stock types were relatively small, although transplants tended to perform better than directly sown acorns. These results suggest that tree shelters can greatly reduce the time required by seedlings to grow to a size where they are less vulnerable to browsing. As such, they appear to be a promising tool in efforts to regenerate blue oak in California. West. J. Appl. For. 16(4):153-158.