Forest Planting in National Forests. 133 



laid upon the value of intensive seedbed work, for it is by inten- 

 sive and systematic methods that the cost per thousand of plants 

 has been greatly reduced and can still be lessened. For instance, 

 if 400 seedlings of Douglas fir are grown to a square foot of 

 seedbed instead of 200, which appears to be entirely possible, the 

 cost, not including the value of the additional seed, is reduced to 

 one-half per unit of area, and a nursery of 2,500 square feet will 

 produce one million plants instead of half a million. Whenever 

 the seed is sown in drills, the drills should not be farther than 

 3 inches apart and should contain not less than 45 plants to a 

 running foot of drill. In this way mulching will be unnecessary 

 with such species as Yellow Pine and Douglas Fir. If the seed- 

 lings grown at the planting stations could be stimulated so as 

 to be ready for field planting in 2 to 3 years instead of 3 to 4, the 

 cost could be decreased. A number of experiments along this 

 line have been conducted at both planting stations with various 

 fertilizers. So far these have not proved beneficial, and it is not 

 considered necessary to continue them until the native fertility of 

 the soil has been drained. 



While the planting stations have been quietly developing along 

 technical and practical lines, different ideas about the whole mat- 

 ter have arisen. The more conservative express doubts about the 

 possibility of reforesting even the most favorable sites with the 

 best grown nursery stock. This, however, seems entirely possible 

 and practicable. Hence the conservatives would have us pro- 

 ceed so slowly and on such a small scale that the cost of the work 

 done would be excessive. Others, on the other hand, realizing 

 the enormity as well as the importance of the work are impa- 

 tient for direct results on a large scale. These are confident of 

 effecting reforestation even by direct seedings. Between the two 

 extremes, a "golden mean" seems to be the logical position to 

 hold, i. e., to build up the existing nurseries as rapidly as possible, 

 and, in addition to carry on experiments in planting and seeding. 

 There are several obstacles in the way of getting success with 

 direct seeding. Weather conditions are usually responsible for 

 success or failure. However, if it succeeds, it will hold out a 

 hope of accomplishing results more nearly compatible with the 

 needs. The planting stations can then supply stock for the less 

 favorable sites while broadcasting may be practiced on the more 

 favorable situations. 



