78 FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 



can get hold of the ground. It may usually be done successfully 

 before the regular spring work of farming comes. It may also 

 be done in the early fall, but this time is not recommended as 

 the trees are not always able to get their roots established before 

 frost comes — resulting in frost throw the following spring. 



Mixtures: — It is very often advantageous to plant a mixture 

 of trees ; one species to form the late merchantable volume of 

 the stand, another to crowd the more valuable species into good 

 form and to be such rapid growth that it can be removed at the 

 proper time in the life of the stand to return a good profit. 

 White pine and European larch do well together in this manner, 

 and should be planted in the proportion of two of the former 

 to one of the latter. 



Care of the Plantation: — Once the trees are set in the ground 

 very little care is necessary until the branches begin to overlap 

 and to die ofif from shading. This should occur after about ten 

 years, and a light thinning may then be made. 



Pruning: — If desired, the lower persistent dead branches 

 may be knocked off, but the pruning of live limbs is to be dis- 

 couraged. 



Fire: — It is essential that fire be kept out of the stand. A 

 light surface fire will very easily scorch through the bark of the 

 young trees, and result in their death, but after they have reached 

 a diameter of about four inches the danger from serious fire 

 injury becomes less. If the fire danger is excessive an effective 

 preventative measure may be found in raking the litter and dead 

 grass away from the outer boundaries of the plantation for a 

 width o£ about lo feet. 



Animals: — For the first few years care should be taken that 

 the trees are not trampled by cows or horses, and sheep should 

 be rigorously excluded. Deer will occasionally nip the top off of 

 the tender spruce seedling. 



Insects: — The greatest pest to the white pine plantation is 

 the weevil. This is a small borer that works in the trees up to 

 the time that they are about ten feet in height. During the 

 early life of the plantation the trees should be inspected occa- 

 sionally and immediate action taken if the weevil is found. 



This borer works in the whorl of branches at the base of the 

 leader or tip of the tree. Small, round holes are to be found 



