460 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



REPRODUCTION. 



Where forest conditions approach somewhat the ideal and the forest 

 floor is in receptive condition for seeds, it will not be diflScult to get 

 natural reproduction. 



Natural reproduction can be greatly aided by artificial seeding. In 

 the fall, spud in seeds of beech, walnut, hickory, oak acorns and chest- 

 nuts in open places among the other trees and along the boundaries 

 where the light is sufficient. In order to plant lighter seeds, the forest 

 litter may be scraped away to the mineral soil, a few seeds scattered in 

 and a light coating of litter returned to place. Such seeds as those of 

 the three Elms, Red and Silver Maple may be planted in spring while a 

 great variety of conifers and many others of the broad leaf trees may 

 be planted in this way in the fall with little effort. 



Where more rapid results are desired, seedlings or transplants grown 

 in the home garden or procured from a nursery may be set directly into 

 place. 



ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW WOODS. 



In establishing new woods, wherever possible, they should be located 

 so as to utilize untillable land, beautify the home surroundings, protect 

 buildings, orchards, or fields, while at the same time, they are laying 

 up wood material which may finally be utilized for fuel, fence posts, 

 implement handles or possibly building timbers. 



Many a farm has found a purchaser at a premium over the adjacent 

 one because of a Norway Spruce wind break or a few well placed stately 

 elms by the road side. It has been the tree planting and tree admiring 

 families who have stayed generation after generation on the farm. 



Most farms of the average size have small areas which on account of 

 their position or drainage conditions, are not fit for cultivation. The 

 soil on these areas may be as fertile as that on the adjacent cultivated 

 field and if planted to trees would produce a good growth. With the 

 constant rise in price of lands, it will pay sometime in the future, doubt- 

 less, to drain and perhaps terrace these acres. Until then, they should 

 be gTowing timber. Steep hillsides may not only be unproductive but 

 may be the cause of damage to adjacent lands by erosion, the washing of 

 soil and depositing it on land under cultivation. In such locations tree 

 growth aids in retaining the soil in position while the volume of lumber 

 constantly increases. On such areas, planting should be made dense and 

 cutting should be very gradual by the selection system. 



In establishing windbreaks and shelter belts, spacing is one of the im- 

 portant points which goes far in determining the success or failure of the 

 work. In general, space wide on light soils and dry locations and close 

 on more fertile moist areas. Shade enduring trees will permit of closer 

 spacing than light demanding species. Original cost of stock may also 

 be an influential factor, as with close spacing the cost increases rapidly, 

 as is shown by the following table of spacing and number of plants used : 



Feet. Plants per acre. 



3 X 3 4,840 



4 X 4 2,723 



i X 5 1,743 



6 X 6 1,210 



7x7 880 



