Management of the Ruffed Grouse 337 



tion. But cases are common where there is httle opportunity for open 

 land plantings, or even if there is such opportunity the range is still 

 largely deficient in shelter. In these cases interplanting is the only 

 solution. Both game shelter and the diversity of wood products are 

 thereby improved. 



Full advantage should be taken of existing crown openings in 

 which to plant. Here the young seedlings will have the most sun- 

 hght. Additional planting areas should be prepared by making 

 openings in the crown through removal of large-crowned "wolf" 

 trees, group selection cutting, or small clear cuttings. So far as pos- 

 sible this should be accomplished by making cuttings of marketable 

 materials in places that suit the needs of the wood harvest plan. 

 Planting should be made in the spring immediately following the 

 cutting. Plantings are not recommended under a full-canopied 

 woods. 



Species of conifers for this use should be quite shade-tolerant. 

 Best in the Northeast for this purpose are the spruces (Norway, 

 white, or red), white cedar, and white pine. If the openings are 

 fairly large and the anticipated competition from hardwoods not 

 severe, balsam fir, red pine. Banks pine or other adaptable species 

 may be used. Spacing of plants should be the standard plantation 

 spacing, five to eight feet apart. The stock should be the best qual- 

 ity available, with an even balance of roots and top. This is gener- 

 ally a four-year-old transplant (known to foresters as a 2-2 plant, 

 indicating two years in a seedling bed, followed by two years in a 

 transplant line ) ff white pine, white cedar or spruce are used, or a 

 three-year seedling of the other species. Most state, federal, and 

 commercial nurseries handle these grades. 



IMPROVEMENT OF SHELTER BY CUTTINGS 



The improvement of shelter in pure hardwood stands as suggested 

 above requires considerable time. Even when the best of planting 

 stock is used and the soil is adapted to conifers it will be five to ten 

 years before their shelter will be of much value. In the interim, 

 temporary improvement may be gained through cuttings of the type 

 which foresters call "cleanings." Two methods may be used. One is 

 to half -cut small trees that are not needed for wood products. By 

 cutting each tree enough to cause it to fall to the ground, yet leaving 



