506 JOURNAL O^ FORESTRY 



IS FALL PLANTING OF FOREST TREES RECOMMENDABLE? 



Spring planting of forest trees is usually recommended. It may be 

 the preferable season, but a number of silvicultural and economic fac- 

 tors suggest occasional fall planting. The planting operations may be 

 so large that the necessary labor is not av^ailab'le to do all the work 

 in spring. The planting site may be so located that frost leaves the 

 ground late in spring and growth starts immediately thereafter at a 

 rapid rate. The planting stock may also <:onsist of species which in- 

 herently start their growth early in spring. These factors appear to 

 suggest fall planting, if a satisfactory establishment of the planted 

 trees is possible. 



In the fall of 1917 the Department of Forestry planted 10,000 seed- 

 lings on the State Military Reservation at Mt. Gretna upon sites rang- 

 ing from swamps to hilltops and on soils varying from clay to sand. 

 An examination at the end of the first growing season showed an estab- 

 lishment from 90 to 98 per cent of the trees planted. Numerous fall 

 planting experiments have also been made on State forests, a number of 

 them dating back as far as 1907, and some show a satisfactory estab- 

 lishment. These results, while fairly conclusive and comprehensive, 

 however, do not furnish as adequate and accurate information as is 

 necessary to practice fall planting with any positive assurance of suc- 

 cess. Consequently, in the fall of 1918 a comprehensive planting ex- 

 periment w'as outlined and established on six State forests located In as 

 extreme parts of the State as possible. 



Planting began on September 17, when G.OOO trees (1,000 each of 

 six different species) were set out on each of the six State forests. 

 Thereafter, approximately 6,000 trees (1,000 each of six difiterent 

 species) were planted at two-week intervals until November 30, when 

 planting was no longer possible. The species used are : White pine, 

 red pine, jack pine, Scotch pine, Norway spruce, European larch, Jap- 

 anese larch, and white ash. Other hardwood species will be included 

 in later experimental fall planting as rapidly as the planting stock be- 

 comes available. 



This experiment comprises 24 separate plantations, which cover a 

 wide range of moisture, soil, and existing growth conditoins and are 

 situate on different exposures and at different altitudes. It covers an 

 aggregate area of 67.13 acres, required 141,235 trees and cost $1,090.37. 



No conclusive results are yet available, for only one growing season 

 has elapsed since the experiment was started. But it is of interest to 



