EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



479 



The land was plowed and harrowed and the trees set in rows 4 feet 

 apart and 4 feet apart in the row. The plantation covered about one 

 acre. For the first 2 or 3 years after planting the plantation was culti- 

 vated but after that no care was given it. 



Of the 40 odd species planted less than half remain and of these only 

 about a half dozen, all conifers, may be said to have succeeded, and 

 only 3 or 4 have demonstrated their ability to grow to advantage under 

 these conditions of soil and moisture. 



IHAEiUWOODS 



Of all the hardwood species which have survived none have shown any 

 possibilities. They have largely failed even to develop to tree form 

 and are mostly merely a scrubby growth, being either unable to with- 

 stand the severity of the climate or the infertility of the soil. 



The largest elm is only 4 inches in diameter as compared with upwards 

 of 8 inches for many of the conifers. Two Lombardy poplars are 40 feet 

 tall and 7.5 inches in diameter. Most of the others have been broken 

 by wind or ice. Some of the other species of poplar attained rather strag- 

 gling tree forms before being killed back by adverse conditions. The 

 black locust has succeeded in obtaining a foot-hold and has spread out 

 into the field on both sides but it does not assume tree form. The leaders 

 are killed back almost annually by late frosts and the result is a growth 

 of valueless brush. A few trees in the interior of the plantation have at- 

 tained a height of 20 feet and a diameter of 3 inches. It is noteworthy 

 that no oaks were planted, although certain species of oak occur naturally 

 on similar sites. 



The forest plantation on sandy soil at Grayling. 

 OONIFEIRIS 



Of the 9 species of conifers planted, specimens of all still exist but only 

 a few have apparently demonstrated their ability to succeed under these 

 conditions, the red pine, white pine and Norway spruce. Two others show 

 possibilities, the Scotch and pitch pines. The others have either made 



