REVIEWS 



Reforesting Pennsyh'ania's JVaste Land: What and How to 

 Plant. By W. G. Conklin. Bulletin 15, Pennsylvania Department 

 of Forestry: Harrisburg, Pa. 1916. Pp. 34. 



This bulletin, written for the information of would-be planters, 

 gives on 34 pages, based upon the experience of the State Depart- 

 ment of Forestry, an account of what and how to plant, and how to 

 obtain planting stock in Pennsylvania. 



Of the forest area of 7.5 million acres not less than 5 million 

 are in nonproductive condition, which can be made productive only 

 by planting. In addition, 2 million acres of waste farm land has 

 lapsed into unprofitable condition, fit only for timber growing. 



These potential forest areas are classified into five classes, 

 namely, abandoned farm lands, mismanaged farm woodlots, second- 

 growth hardwood lands, watersheds, areas covered with bracken 

 and sweet fern, burned-over coal and oil lands, scrub oak barrens. 

 Each of these classes offers its own problems. Brief silvical notes, 

 especially as regards adaptation to soils, on species recommended 

 for planting are given. 



The usual general discussion on light requirements, age and size 

 of planting stock, time to plant, care of planting stock, soil prepara- 

 tion and spacing is based on the practice of the department. We 

 learn that most of the planting is done with two-year-old seedlings 

 (conifers) ; only under adverse conditions three-year-old stock is 

 used ; but for Norway spruce three-year-old stock is preferred on 

 account of the very uneven size of two-year-old plants grown in the 

 nursery. Fall planting has been found objectionable on account of 

 frost-heaving; the season for spring planting starts in the southern 

 parts of the State about the end of March, in the northern parts 

 from one to three weeks later, according to latitude. 



It is notable that any kind of elaborate soil preparation is dis- 

 countenanced on account of the expense and the relatively small 

 advantage, except where plowing can be done cheaply. Moreover, 

 where existing growth is removed and burned, as on scrub oak bar- 

 rens, coppice shoots are produced and interfere with the planted 

 stock. The spacing usually employed and recommended "for Penn- 

 sylvania conditions" is 4 by 4 or 5 by 5, i. e., 1,700 to 2,700 plants 



364 



