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3. It is agreed that broadcasting seed on difficult sites sometimes requires at least two times as much seed as drilling. Unfortunately, we can find no reference which states unequivocally that at least 80 seeds per square foot is needed for broadcasting severe sites. All references we have seen, including SCS literature, give drilled rates for favorable sites and simply expand on that for less favorable sites. Favorable sites require 15 to 25 live seeds per square foot. Severe sites need 50°b to 100~b more and for broadcasting this should be doubled. In our experience, machinery for broadcasting seed is very inaccurate and can result in ranges of 35 to about 120 seeds per square foot for a mixture designed to spread 60 seeds per square foot. Therefore, the 14 seeds per square foot difference betvreen our mixture and the rate you recommend is of little practical significance. iVith regard to north-facing slopes, the literature supports an approach tvhere north-facing as well as east-facing slopes be seeded at rates of about 50A of the south or west-facing slope rates. This is clearly stated in Cook, Hyde, and Sims (1974) and implied in most other references in listings of factors affecting seeding rates. In short, we feel that our designed mixtures and rates are appropriate for the site and do not need to be altered. 4. Roclc mulch will not actually be spread. The reference to rock mulch refers to the mulching effect of the rocks which will be in the soil. Wood mulch will only be used on south-facing areas. 5. The size of the chips produced by a standard chipper working with variable sized materials end different types of wood can hardly be controlled. The resulting chips range in size from less than 1/4" to more than 4". According to their paper on minesoil genesis, Schafer, Nielsen, and Nettleton found that C/N ratios in eve~i old minesoils were far from the natural equilibrium level of about 10. Even after many years of growth the accumulated litter produced tivide C/N ratios, problems with N availability, and low productivity as well as stagnated succession. ]t appears that the addition of any undecomposed material whether mulch or plant litter from years of growth will adversely affect C/N ratios when dealing with minesoils. Controlled grazing and/or the addition of N can Help stabilize the ratio but apparently will not produce levels where the ratio aprroaches 10. It appears that stable, "normal" C!N ratios are only produced when the slow nitrogen cycling processes 3