Management of the Ruffed Grouse 363 



crop. Careful and frequent weeding during the early season will 

 reduce the problem to minor proportions in late summer. 



As the seedlings develop, it is very important to reduce their 

 density to a desirable level so that each plant will have adequate 

 space and food. The optimum densities for each species are given 

 in Table 12. The thinnings should be started as soon as the plants 

 are large enough to begin crowding. For conifers this is three to 

 four weeks after germination; for hardwoods, after they form their 

 second true leaves. It is required to insure an evenly spaced stand. 



Weeding ( or cultivation if row-seeded ) and irrigation should be 

 gradually tapered off beginning at midsummer and should be 

 stopped completely about six weeks before frost is expected. This 

 gives the plants an opportunity to harden before cold weather. 



Various species of trees and shrubs require different periods of 

 time for the attainment of size suitable for field planting. A number 

 of the hardwoods grow to sufficient size in a single summer. These 

 are known as one-year seedlings and are designated "1-0," meaning 

 one year in the seedling bed and no transplanting. All the northern 

 conifers require more than one year and those recommended in 

 Table 12 require three or four years, depending upon the growing 

 conditions in the individual nursery and upon the weather. These 

 pines, spruces, and arborvitae are usually kept in the seedling bed 

 for two years and then transplanted in field rows. Two more years 

 as a transplant give the young tree its final designation "2-2." When 

 they are to be grown to usable size in three years, it is generally best 

 not to transplant. 



Some of the hardwoods require two years and are designated 

 in Table 12 as "2-0." Others may sometimes, in good years, reach 

 usable size in one year and then in other seasons grow so slowly 

 as to require a second year. Those hardwoods requiring a second 

 year in the nursery may be transplanted to become 1-1 plants ff 

 desired. This is usually done only with beds of uneven growth where 

 some plants are ready for field use after one season while others 

 are too small. The small ones may be saved, after the bed is dug, 

 by transplanting. 



The final column of Table 12 gives the smallest size recom- 

 mended for field-planting stock. The first figure is the height in 

 inches above ground, the second is the diameter of the stem one- 

 half inch above ground. In all cases it is assumed that the plants 



