350 The Ruffed Grouse 



tion is an important objective to be accomplished in connection with 

 planting the land. However, it should be noted that by far the 

 greater opportunity for grouse cover improvement Hes with existing 

 woods rather than in plantations. 



There are certain basic principles that must be followed in all 

 plantation work. First, the species used should be well adapted to 

 the climatic and site conditions. Most important of site conditions 

 are the level of fertility and degree of dryness of the soil. These re- 

 quirements for all species recommended for use are summarized in 

 Table 11. When the correlations of range and site are cared for, 

 the next requirement is good planting stock: large and sturdy 

 enough to withstand competition, but not too large to handle 

 easily; well balanced as to root-top ratio; and properly cared for 

 after removal from the nursery. Finally, it should be set in the 

 ground with the roots well spread, and with the root-collar at the 

 ground line. In most planting work a large "scalp" of the sod should 

 be removed (at least twelve inches in diameter) and the plant set 

 in the middle of this area. Still better is a plow furrow every six 

 feet ( closer for shrubs ) , made on the contour. These enable the seed- 

 ling to make good grov^h before the competition of herbaceous 

 plants can retard it. 



Pattern of Plantations. Plantations may be divided into types ac- 

 cording to the nature of the resulting cover. Three types of plantings 

 are needed for grouse: conifers, hardwood trees, and shrubs. These 

 correspond to similar natural stands in furnishing cover and food. 

 The first need in planting for new cover is to correct the deficiencies 

 in existing stands. In the Northeast the most prevalent shortcom- 

 ing is in coniferous cover. The greater part of the planting area is 

 likely to be conifers for this reason, as well as because several of 

 the conifers are among the most profitable for planting from the 

 forestry standpoint. In many areas there may also be a lack of ade- 

 quate brushy cover, or overgrown land. Shrub plantings may be 

 made to fill this need. 



The positional relationship between the several types in the plan- 

 tation is of great importance. The outside of the planting area, that 

 is, where it bounds on open field, road, or other opening, should 

 receive the shrubs, thus creating a border. Behind the shrub bor- 

 ders a band of hardwood trees provides good nesting and winter- 



