THE EFFECT OF PLANTING METHOD UPON GROWTH OI^ 

 WESTERN YELLOW PINE 



By Harry C. Turner 

 Forest Planting Assistant, Fort Bayard Nursery 



One of the earliest reforestation experiments initiated by the Forest 

 Service, and one which has been conducted in variously modified forms 

 in almost every section of the West where planting has been attempted, 

 is the comparison of dilTerent planting methods. In the Southwest, 

 the first few years of practice before intensive experimentation was 

 begun sufficed to show that only the more intensive methods gave 

 promise of success. The three methods most thoroughly tried out in 

 the Southwest are designated and described as follows : 



1. ''Side-hole'' Method. — As the name implies, the plant is set with 

 the roots spread against one side of the hole. A hole about 12 inches 

 deep, 8 to 10 inches wide at the top, and narrowed down to about 3 

 inches at the bottom, is made with a long-bladed mattock. When the 

 soil is rocky, as is usually the case in New Mexico and Arizona, the 

 hole assumes an irregular shape. In the earlier planting, particularly 

 at the Fort Bayard Nursery, an efifort was made to cut one of the sides 

 smooth and vertical. The plant was set against this side. In later 

 years the plant was set against one of the rough but usually vertical 

 walls formed by breaking the soil as the mattock is pried out. 



2. "Middle-of-hole" Method. — In this method the hole is made in the 

 manner described above, excepting that it is usually somewhat wider at 

 the bottom. The plant is set in the middle of the hole. It is held low 

 and in an inclined position, so that the ends of the roots when spread 

 rest upon the bottom of the hole. The roots are quickly covered with 

 loose soil, at the same time raising the plant to the proper height. 

 Since the root ends are anchored by the first application of soil, the 

 laterals tend to remain spread out when the plant is raised, instead of 

 being pressed together, as would be the tendency if the tips were 

 unsupported. 



3. "Mound'' or "Cone" Method. — The hole is wider than in either <>f 

 the preceding methods, it being usually about 6 inciies at the bottom. 

 A small mound or cone is made in the center of the hole by moulding a 

 luass of fresh soil between the hands. Tlu- main axis of the root is set 



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