AXTON PLANTATIONS 989 



The first plantation in 1899 was made on about i8 acres of old slash 

 on Stony Creek, grown up to aspen and brush, without any soil or other 

 preparation, with around 43,000 plants brought from Douglas & Sons, 

 the cost of the plants being $5 per thousand, the planting cost being 

 $3.70 per thousand. 



In 1900, some 250,000 plants were purchased, mostly from Heins 

 Sons, of which around 120,000 went into plantations, the balance into 

 nursery rows, except a large loss (65,000) occurring through delay in 

 the customs. Four plantations on about 90 acres were made that year. 

 The cost of plants was reduced to $1.85 per thousand, and the planting, 

 including some clearing work, $4.80 per thousand, or altogether $10.70 

 per acre. Some $50 were spent on the plantations around Axton for 

 weeding, cutting out blackberries, and brush-burning on 30 acres in 

 24 labor days. 



In some of these plantations the planting iron was used to some 

 extent, and in some places two plants were set in the hole, in many 

 cases both surviving, holes 5 to 9 feet apart, about 900 to the acre. 

 An estimate of the amount of planting that could be done with the two 

 tools was 400 plants with grub-hoe and 800 plants with Wartemberg 

 iron. 



To locate the plantings for inspection, this can be done by numbering 

 as they are approached coming from Tupper Lake. 



No. I was made under condition numbered 13, and was burned up; 

 so was 



No. 2 made under condition numbered 12. 



These two were located north of the road before reaching the old 

 clearings around Forester. 



No. 3, on the south side of the road, on an old field with heavy grass 

 sod and very poor dry sand, in furrows and plots, using Scotch pine, 

 white pine, and Norway spruce in alternating rows. A fire destroyed 

 the white pine completely. Of the spruce, few specimens escaped. A 

 considerable number of Scotch pine survived, showing that it was partly 

 fire-proof and at home on the poor soil. 



The spruce had made poor growth for about 10 or 12 years ; then 

 some specimens showed for the last four years leaders averaging over 

 20 inches. Apparently, the deep planting with mattock brought the 

 roots into unnatural position, and only when a new naturally shallow- . 

 root system had established itself did the trees take on new life. The 

 extension of the root system along the furrows is quite remarkable. 



Next, No. 4, north of the road, is a small Scotch pine plantation, 

 partly injured by fire, on slightly better, but similar soil as No. 3. 



