SILVICULTURAL PROBLEMS IxNT PENNSYLVANIA 511 



The planting- of forest trees by private owners of forest land is now 

 an established practice in Pennsylvania. The progressive tendency of 

 the movement and the existing attitude of forest land owners indicate 

 that the future is full of promise for this new business. More trees 

 were planted in 1919 than during the first seven years of the under- 

 taking (1910 to 1916, inclusive). The number of applicants increased 

 from 23 in 1910 to 791 in 1919. The goal for 1920 is 1,000 applicants 

 and the distribution of 4,000,000 trees. 



The average number of trees distributed in 1919 was 3,969, indicating 

 that the average area reforested per applicant was approximately two 

 or three acres. The two largest applicants called for 180,000 and 135,- 

 000 trees, respectively. No order for less than 500 trees is accepted. 

 This condition eliminates requests for a few trees for ornamental and 

 other non-forestal planting. Among the applicants are farmers, lum- 

 bermen, recreation clubs, hunting clubs, water companies, mining com- 

 panies, municipalities, and educational institutions. Water companies 

 have been the largest and most consistent planters. To date they have 

 received almost one and three-fourth million trees from the Depart- 

 ment, and in addition have planted a large number of trees procured 

 from other sources. The interest mining companies are beginning to 

 take in reforestation, and the desire of land owners to replace the 

 dead, dying, and damaged chestnut are the two most striking and prom- 

 ising developments of the past year. 



It seems to follow from the results so far accomplished that the 

 planting of forest trees by private owners of forest land in Pennsyl- 

 vania should be encouraged. Private individuals and cor'porations are 

 not planting forest trees as a pastime, but look upon the practice as a 

 real business proposition. They desire to make their idle land attrac- 

 tive and productive, and to make some of their vacant corners work. 

 The co-operative scheme worked out in Pennsylvania is practical, 

 economical, and effective. It is producing good results, and regarded 

 as the best line of forestry extension work. This form of extension 

 work not only develops a favorable public sentiment for forestry, but 

 teaches landowners, their managers and employees in a very practical 

 and impressive way one of the important methods of handling a forest 

 property. 



