74 FOREST COMMISSIONERS REPORT. 



(8) Reclaims the unfertile land on which it stands so that 

 it ultimately becomes of agricultural value. 



Methods of Reforesting. 



In general, there are two classes of lands that should be re- 

 forested : ( I ) Open places occurring within the woodlot, which 

 have not begun to come up in seedling growth, or which have 

 begun to support an undersirable species that can be cut out at 

 the expense of a little time, and (2) open areas that are rocky 

 or supporting only a valueless weed growth — all open places 

 that are not used for pasturage or cultivation. 



There are two methods of reforesting: (i) Seeding; (2) 

 Planting. The former has found little success by reason of 

 ( i) The large amount and expense of the seed required, (2) 

 Insufficient preparation of the soil before seeding; (3) Unfav- 

 orable weather during the year; (4) Destruction of the seeds by 

 squirrels, mice, and birds. The method of seeding is not to be 

 recommended, as the chances of absolute failure are too great, 

 and even if the results are finally successful the expense will 

 very probably be as high and the trouble more than planting 

 entails, and the resulting stand will not be as uniform. 



Planting is better by far and may be relied upon, when prop- 

 erly done, to produce results. Either wild or nursery grown 

 stock may be used. The former has the following disadvant- 

 ages : ( I ) Wild stock receives a severe set-back in transplanting, 

 and (2) the cost of digging it up is often as great as the cost of 

 the nursery stock. Nursery trees should be used wherever pos- 

 sible in reforesting for the following reasons : ( i ) It with- 

 stands transplanting, even may benefit by it;- (2) it is cheap in 

 proportion to the results that may be expected; (3) it has been 

 raised with especial care as to root and crown development, and 

 general health ; (4) it is obtainable at the best age and period 

 in the growth of the tree, for adapting itself to the site and 

 making good growth; (5) The plants being of uniform age and 

 size the resulting stand is most advantageously handled. 



The experience of the U. S. Forest Service and of operators 

 everywhere has shown conclusively that planting well grown 

 stock is the most advisable method of reforesting, and that, 

 properly done, the percentage of failures should not be more 

 than 10% nearer 3% to 5% — of the trees set out. 



