Hardwood Planting, California 349 



come in and a great deal of cultivation is necessary. By mixing 

 a light-demanding and a shade-enduring species better results are 

 secured and the soil is utilized to a fuller extent. 



The width of spacing will depend on the purpose of the plant- 

 ing and the species used. In woodlots in this region a spacing of 

 5 by 5, 4 by 8, or 6 by 6 feet is recommended. 



The cost of establishing a plantation is not great. In most cases 

 it will be necessary to plow and harrow the ground, but the ex- 

 pense of this operation should not exceed $4 an acre. This will 

 then materially decrease the cost of planting and the planting 

 proper will not be more than $2.50 to $4 an acre. The price of 

 broadleaf seedlings runs from $1.50 to $6 a thousand, so the 

 total cost at most should not exceed $12 an acre. 



The limited amount of rainfall necessitates irrigation for the 

 first few years at least, and while artificial watering throughout 

 the life of the plantation is not absolutely essential, it is very de- 

 sirable and the growth will be greatly increased thereby. The 

 trees should be watered as soon as they are set out and for the 

 first few months they should be irrigated at least once a week, 

 after which once a month is usually sufficient. Irrigation should 

 be withheld after late summer to allow the trees to harden off 

 before winter. It is often a good plan to turn in the water early 

 in the winter when no further growth is possible in order to keep 

 the soil from drying out too much during the winter. 



When the plantation is not irrigated frequently at the start, 

 cultivation is essential until the trees are large enough to shade 

 the ground. Its object is to conserve the moisture of the soil 

 and to prevent the growth of weeds and grasses. Cultivation 

 should not be undertaken too late in the summer, since it tends to 

 stimulate growth out of season and to render the tree suscep- 

 tible to early fall frosts. In well managed groves cultivation 

 should not be necessary after a period of from three to five years. 



As soon as the trees begin to struggle for light a thinning in 

 which the smaller and less promising trees are removed is ad- 

 visable. Frequent light thinnings are most desirable and in no 

 case should they be so heavy that they make the growth of weeds 

 and grasses possible. Repeated thinnings from time to time, leav- 

 ing the better trees to form the final stand, will in the end produce 

 a very valuable plantation. The thinnings will usually more than 

 pay the cost of necessary labor. 



