882 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



plLsheci to eliminate injury from "damping ofT" fungi in the first-year 

 seed beds and to perfect methods of transplanting which reduce the 

 loss from that process. 



Substantial progress has been made in rechicing the cost of nursery- 

 grown stock. Two-year-old yellow pine seedlings were grown at the 

 Montana nurseries at costs ranging from $1.44 to $2.46 per thousand 

 plants, and 2-year-old Douglas fir seedlings at a cost of $2.22 |)er 

 thousand. One-year seedlings were grown at the Wind River nur- 

 sery, Washington, at a cost of 37^ cents per thousand, exclusive of 

 the cost of nursery improvements and equipment. This stock can be 

 carried a second year in trans[)lant beds at a total cost when ready for 

 the field of $1.75 per thousand plants. With the present organiza- 

 tion of the Utah and Idaho nurseries it seems probable that 2-year- 

 old seedlings can soon be produced at 75 cents per thousand plants, 

 and 2-year stock once transplanted at $1.75 per thousand. A large 

 portion of the stock planted during the year cost from $8 to $12 per 

 thousand seedlings, this item being the principal factor in the high 

 average cost of the plantations established. The foregoing figures, 

 however, indicate the possibilities of greatly reducing this cost 

 through experience and better organization of the nursery work. 



For the greater part of the planting now being done by the Service 

 a nursery rotation of two years, one year in seed beds and one year in 

 transplant beds, produces stock of adequate root and crown develop- 

 ment. One transplanting during this period is ordinarily necessary 

 to harden the root system and promote the growth of lateral roots. 

 With some species, particularly the hardier pines, it seems probable 

 that the cost of transplanting in the nursery can be eliminated by 

 using 2-year-old seedlings in planting on favorable sites. In fact, 

 some tests with yearling seedlings of yellow pine on good soil have 

 been successful, owing to the very rapid root development of this 

 species in the early stages of its growth. 



With this possible exception, experience has eliminated the use of 

 stock under 2 years old in planting with the loose-root system. In 

 potting transplants for arid districts it may prove practicable, under 

 the protection thus afibrded the young roots, to use stock but 1 year 

 old by transferring the seedlings to pots within a few wrecks of germi- 

 nation. For the less favorable localities, as in portions of the South- 

 west, tests with older stock will be continued until comparative 

 results are reached which are conclusive. These will include 3 and 

 even 4 year old stock twice transplanted in the nurseries in some 

 instances in order to form hardier and brushier root S3^stems. 



The greater part of the areas planted were in the central and 

 northern Rocky Mountains, using the native species — yellow pine, 

 Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce, and lodgepole pine. Tests with 

 Scotch and Austrian pine, two exotics of great drought-resisting 

 power, were co-ntinued, together with small experiments with valu- 

 able eastern hardwoods. 



The work in California included 77.87 acres of eucalyptus and hard- 

 woods. The susceptibility of eucalyptus to frost and its exacting 

 soil requirements apparently restrict the acreage of National Forest 

 land to which it is adapted to a very small amount. The importance 

 of the eucalyptus to California, however; makes it desirable for the 

 Service to continue experimental tests with a view to building up our 

 knowledge of the silviculture of the various species, very few of 



