EDITORIAL 299 



the character of the soil determining the variety that is best adapted in each 

 instance. He recommends the use of seedlings as, in the long run, cheaper 

 and more satisfactory than growing from seed, and describes concisely 

 approved methods. A table of the cost of planting one hundred acres shows 

 the average cost per acre to range from |6 to $9.50, according to the cost of 

 labor and seedlings. These figures are based on the actual experience of the 

 Vermont Forest Service and of the International Taper Company on its work 

 in Vermont and New Hampshire. He cites actual results from white pine 

 plantations in Connecticut which have grown with practically no care, com- 

 paring them with two plantations of American white pine in Germany which 

 have received the careful management characteristic of the planted forests 

 of Germany. The results are naturally slightly in favor of the German forests, 

 but Mr. Hawes believes that so far as soil is concerned there is no reason 

 why we should not attain as good results as the European foresters, and that 

 the' difference is solely due to the management of the plantations. 



This article is interesting as suggesting the considerations that must 

 enter into the problem of planting by American land owners. Like many 

 other forestry questions that are so new to our people, this has been frequently 

 discussed in too general a way and the statements made have not given due 

 consideration to all the factors involved in the problem. As we have urged 

 frequently, the time has now come when these problems must be studied with 

 close regard for all the factors that go to make up the sum of the result. 

 Recently when seeking for articles on certain phases of tree planting for 

 American Forestry we found one or two foresters who were inclined to decry 

 the whole idea of forest planting as being worthless for our conditions. It 

 seems to us that their position is an extreme one which has been taken without 

 due consideration and as a result of an excess of enthusiasm for planting 

 shown on the other side. However, this may be there can be no question that, 

 although it is far from being all there is in forestry, planting has a place of 

 increasing importance in our forestry operations, especially in our more 

 thickly settled states. 



THE CRAWFORD NOTCH SAVED 



The passage by the New Hampshire legislature of the bill providing for 

 the purchase by the state of the Crawford Notch is a triumph that so far as 

 the state itselfis concerned is on a par with the passage of the Weeks bill by 

 Congress. The Crawford Notch purchase will institute a state policy in har- 

 mony with the new national policy that should ultimately make of the White 

 Mountain country a great combined state and national forest protected from 

 fire, its forest crops carefully husbanded, its scenic values preserved— a never 

 failing source of health and wealth to the people. 



The final passage of the bill in both houses by a unanimous vote would 

 make us wonder at the delay and at the doubt as to its final success if we did 

 not know the devious ways by which legislatures reach their conclusions. 

 Evidently its friends did effective work, and Governor Bass, whose influence 

 was felt throughout in behalf of the bill, has made himself already a force to 

 be reckoned with. There was objection to the original appropriation of one 

 hundred thousand dollars and as finally passed the amount to be paid \yas 

 placed at the discretion of the governor and council, a much more business-like 



arrangement. 



We congratulate the state and the Society for the I'rotection of New Hamp- 

 shire Forests, and we congratulate the thousands of people who annually 

 enjoy the rugged beauty of this noble mountain pass. 



