!)18 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



sirable to have long rows (one-quarter mile is not too long) in order 

 that as Httle time as possible may be lost in turning about or in resting 

 at the end of the rows. Each planter carries a planting tool and box 

 of trees. The planter drops his box alongside the furrow, takes up a 

 tree and makes a hole with a downward thrust of the bar, which is 

 opened up to the desired width with a forward and backward move- 

 ment of the handle. The tree is then slipped or lowered into the hole 

 along the blade of the planting bar, the bar removed, and the tree 

 slightly moved above to straighten out the roots if they have been dis- 

 turbed by the removal of the bar. The soil is then forced back against 

 the tree as it is held at the proper elevation in the hole by inserting the 

 bar into the soil from 2 to 3 inches ahead of the tree. The hole last 

 made is covered to avoid the drying out of the soil by stepping upon it, 

 as the planter paces ahead to the next tree distance. The only possible 

 disadvantage in this method is that all the roots are crowded into one 

 plane. This is also the case in transplanting when the trencher is used 

 and no injury results — in either case possibly because the roots are 

 small and are not spread very widely. 



COSTS 



The cost of plowing the furro\vs depends upon the soil conditions, 

 whether moist or dry, and the amount and character of ground cover, 

 but usually runs from 50 to 60 cents an acre where furrows are made 

 from 6 to 8 feet apart and team and man hired at $5 a day. The actual 

 planting of the trees when average 2-0 or 2-1 stock is used runs from 

 $2 to $2.40 an acre, depending on the number of hours worked. The 

 State men work 10 hours a day and the Government men but 8 hours 

 for the same rate and pay. Planting at a certain cost per thousand 

 under some form of a contract system is suggested as a better means 

 of handling the wage item. This, of course, will require the careful 

 supervision of an attending Forest officer. The planters are able to 

 average from 1,700 to 2,000 trees a day for 8 hours and slightly better 

 than this for 10 hours. 



ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD OVER OTHERS ATTEMPTED 



1. The cost of the work is less. 



2. The percentage of survival is high. 



3. The trees make a more rapid and satisfactory growth. 



4. The trees are not forced to compete with any surrounding vegeta- 

 tion for 3 or 4 years after planting. 



