20 Forestry Quarterly 



the aspen favors the establishment of a dense underbrush, espec- 

 ially of hazel, with an admixture of half a dozen other shrubs. 

 This underbrush keeps out the spruce, keeps it from establishing 

 itself by natural seeding, and would choke it out if planted, and 

 hence must be removed before a young crop of spruce, and even 

 of aspen, could be established. Experiments are needed to deter- 

 mine the cheapest effective method of dealing with this trouble. 

 The inquiry would be as to whether cutting or burning produce 

 the more favorable conditions and at what time of the year it is 

 best to do the one or the other. 



Planting Problems 



The desire of the forester is to secure his crop, if possible, by 

 natural regeneration; that is, to so handle the matiure crop that 

 the seeds falling from it establish the new crop before the seed 

 trees are all removed; this in order to avoid the outlay for plant- 

 ing. But there are large areas in these Reserves on which no old 

 crop of desirable species is to be found, and it becomes necessary 

 to establish such species by planting. The problem, then, is to 

 find the most suitable species and the cheapest successful manner 

 of propagation. 



To gain an insight as to what species to introduce, trial planta- 

 tions on a small scale are indicated. 



It is my impression that not only in the aforementioned forest- 

 less Reserves, and where desirable species are lacking, but also in 

 the weU-wooded ones, planting will be found often preferable to 

 reliance on natural regeneration. 



While the apparent economy in relying on Nattue's ability to 

 establish a new crop is in favor of natural regeneration, avoiding 

 the cash outlay necessary to start the crop by artificial means, 

 sowing or planting by hand, in the end result the latter often 

 proves the cheaper. 



To use Nattu-e as a planter reqtdres knowledge, judgment and 

 skill not only, but lucky weather conditions, satisfactory seed 

 production and favorable conditions of the ground for germination 

 and growth of the seedlings. This combination of favorable cir- 

 cumstances does not occur frequently. On the other hand, by 

 growing seedlings in nurseries where they can be given the best 

 care, and setting out plants, success can be forced, and especially 

 time can be saved. 



