Adequate Oak Regeneration--a Problem without a Solution?

Oaks will be most scarce on good sites (Sand~r 1977; Smith, Rosier, and Hammack 1976; Trimble 1973; Trimble and Hart 1961). The reasons are simple but basic--not enough oaks are becoming established, and those that do are not developing adequately. Oaks on poorer sites are usually good stump sprouters. Sprouts grow fast and are thus competitive, especially since on poor sites there are usually fewer fast growing trees for the oaks to compete against.