26 



nuts should be spread out in some dry, cool place for a few days until they are 

 well matured. Care should he taken both in storing and maturing not to leave 

 nuts piled so deep that they might heat. While maturing they should be turned 

 over occasionally. 



Seed may be stored by putting them on a well drained spot and covering 

 them with leaves or hay over which may be placed a light covering of brush. 

 Storing in a pit, as shown in Fig. 25, is a safe method. Layers of nuts (a) six to 

 ten inches deep covered with leaves or small twigs (h) and topped off with soil 

 (c) three to four inches in depth, provides good storage. A light covering of brush 

 or hay over the pit will prevent washing of the top dressing of soil. A ditch at the 

 side, as in Fig 25, (d), will give drainage. The bottom of the ditch should be 

 well below the general level. 



Nuts can also be safely stored by stratifying them in sand. Stratifying seed 

 is done by making a layer of sand and then a layer of seed mixed with sand. This 

 may be done in a well drained trench or in a box. In the case of storing in a box 

 the box should be covered lightly with soil. If left standing unprotected it will 

 dry out and injure the seed. 



Fig. 25. — Cross section of pit for storing nuts. 



The preparation of the planting area will be similar to that described in 

 previous pages. Where planting is to be done in sod it will be necessary to cut 

 away a square of sod, as in Fig. 22. Planting the nut is very simple and may 

 be done with a sharp-pointed stick' or dibble. With this instrument a hole is made 

 in the planting spot and the nut dropped in. In loose soils the nut can be suffi- 

 ciently covered by a stamp of the heel. When the soil is heavy it may be necessary 

 to cover the nut by prodding with the dibble. The nut should be planted deeper 

 in loose than in heavy soils. The depth should be from two to three inches, 

 depending upon the looseness of the soil. 



Bed Oak and Black Walnut should not be planted alone to form a plantation. 

 These species do not form crown cover or canopy enough to protect the soil and 

 obtain the desirable forest soil condition. Mixtures of Eed Oak and White Pine 

 will probably give good results, although our lack of experience with native species 

 makes it difficult to advise mixtures. In many waste lands there are spots in which 

 the soil is better than that of the general area. In waste sand lands there are 

 frequently low areas where the moisture content of the soil is better than the 

 average. In planting such lands where the White Pine is being used to stock the 

 area, these spots could be filled with Red Oak. 



