FORESTATION PRACTICE IN NORWAY 97 



each. With spruce-fir it is best to select the light-green plants rather 

 than the dark green for field planting, since the latter, although thriftier 

 in the seed bed, remain stationary when planted on less favorable sites, 

 while the former soon become vigorous and dark colored. Strong 

 transplants i-i pine and 1-2 spruce-fir are used where the living plant 

 cover is especially dense. 



The Planting 



The plants are wrapped with moist moss and carried in a gunny sack 

 or tin receptacle. After the hole is made, a little soil is dropped in it 

 and the plant inserted, with roots spread out, so that it stands lower 

 than it is intended to be left. "It is then drawn up to the proper height 

 for pine, so that the stem's lowest lateral buds, or where these are 

 lacking the lowest whorl of leaves are flush with the ground, and for 

 spruce-fir the same height as in the seed bed, which is easily discernible 

 in the transition from the darker bark to the lighter-colored root bark." 

 Planting of pines deeper than in the nursery is not disadvantageous, 

 since this species naturally develop a deep root-system. Spruce-fir, 

 however, should not be planted deeper than it originally stood. 



"The crooks in the roots not righted in the above-mentioned lower- 

 ing and raising are straightened out with the planting-stick and the 

 roots are given as normal a position as possible. Too long roots are 

 cut off with a knife rather than allowed to remain bent." When there 

 is danger of frost-heaving, the plant is set slightly deeper and against 

 one side of the hole. Filling-earth is given successive gentle tampings 

 until the plant seems firm. The upper surface soil is left loose. As in 

 seed-spot sowing, litter is placed around the plant, and a stone is fre- 

 quently placed on the sunny side to protect from drouth. 



A planting crew commonly consists of three diggers, nine planters, 

 and one or two men carrying filling-earth. A careful scheme of lining 

 up the plants in rows is practiced. Planting is omitted where natural 

 reproduction is present. 



Site 



"Every species should stand on ground suitable for it." Thus in a 

 heavy plant spruce and fir, because of their greater tolerance, will sur- 

 vive where pine cannot. 



Soil Preparation 



Where the nursery seed beds are to be placed, the soil may be 

 loosened the preceding fall to 20 to 25 cm. in depth, and again in spring 



