REFORESTATION OF WASTE LANDS. 



425 



The best soil should be planted up first so as to obtain early returns 

 and so as to secure the necessary training of the crew of planters 

 and of the superintendent of the rang^ers before more difficult tasks 

 are begun on poorer soil . 



The planting should proceed gradually toward the prevailing 

 storm direction, so that after eighty years the plantation would lie 

 about as follows: 



CO 



The figures given in this sketch represent the age of the strip of 

 forest. Every two series of such strips are separated by what may 

 be fire lanes. 



Under this arrangement the storm will not blow down any trees. 



Between every two strips, lines about 16 feet wide should be left 

 unplanted as secondary fire lines. Thej'^ should be kept cleared from 

 inflammable matter as much as possible, so as to act as secondary 

 fire lines and so as to facilitate supervision and transportation of 

 forest produce. The main fire lines, separating two series of forest 

 plantations should be about 100 feet wide. They should be estab- 

 lished at intervals of about 2,500 feet and should be kept absolutely 

 clean from any inflammable matter, being burned over annually 

 under proper supervision by the forest rangers. 



This arrangment will necessitate each series of plantations to 

 have a width of about 2,500 feet, or to consist of about five stripes 

 each. 



Adjoining strips should differ in age by at least five years and by 

 not over twenty years, so as to avoid the spread of insect pests and 

 fungous disease on one side and heavy overshadowing on the other 

 aide. 



Seedlings and saplings of pine, tamarack, white cedar and hard 

 woods, wherever they appear in groups sprung up from self-sown 

 seed, should be fostered, whilst single indiviuals — especially mis- 

 shapped and shrubby trees — should be gradually removed by dead- 

 ening or otherwise. 



A good survey must precede the entire operations. Without the 

 help of accurate maps, forestry work is uncontrollable. 



Only compact bodies of land should be acquired, the cost of 

 protection and administration per acre being much smaller in this 

 case. 



