The bacterial flora associated with root systems of young and mature lodgepole pine was investigated by sampling forest-grown trees. Counts were performed and expressed on a surface-area basis to give a more realistic comparison of organism density or activity within the control soil, rhizosphere soil, and rhizoplane. On this basis, densities increased by an order of 104- to 106-fold from control soil to rhizoplane, with the degree of stimulation being inversely related to root radius.