ARTIFICIAL KEPUom'CTlON. 63 



tracts in Maine and Maasaclinsotis an- coming up in this way to socond-growth pino, and as thf profit arising from 

 tlio protection of these youiii; forests is better understood, there is no reason to diinlit that tbo whole matter will in 

 a gn^at measure rcgnlati^ itself. 



In the Adirondark region and in the i)ino belt of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota the case is far difterent. 

 Under the present system forest tires are an almost necessary result of all lumbering operations. To start with, all 

 trees that are large enough -.irr cut, and if by chance here and there one has escaped that might produce a crop 

 of seeds, it pc^rishes in the liros that socui sweep over the groun<l, leaving liardly a living thing beliind them, and 

 burning the seeds that under otlier ((Uiditions might have sprung u]) to form a second growth of pine. On all 

 such burned tracts i)ine seedlings are rarely found in any number, and yet here and tliere they are seen growing 

 where the lire had left a seed tree by the side of a stream or a piece of uuburued ground, thus giving the seed a 

 chance to grow. 



After making a careful study of the pine lands of Michigan for several years the conclusion seouis plain that 

 here, exactly as in New England, everything practically depends upon reseodiug. Here in the Northwest the seed 

 trees have been destroyed, the seeds in the ground have been burned, and, as an inevitable consequi^nce, the land 

 remains a wilderness and must remain so until some means are found of restoring the forests by artificial sowing or 

 planting. There is nothing in the soil itself that prevents reforesting the pine lands of Michigan at once. It is 

 because seeds are, to a great extent, wanting, and the seedlings that do start are not protected, that these pine lands 

 are left in their desolate and unproductive condition.' 



The experience with White Pine in Europe fully confirms the correctness of the observations 

 above recited. White Pine abroad reproduces well, seeds abundantly, and is so particularly well 

 suited to natural reproduction that the most experienced and competent recent writers claim that 

 this tree fairly " demands" this form of regeneration. 



ARTIFICIAL REPRODUCTION. 



Concerning the artificial reproduction by seeding or planting, the experience, both in this 

 country and Europe, i.s quite extensive. Not only has this species been planted frequently and 

 for a long time in New England and in other parts of its natural range, even for forest purposes, 

 but thrifty groves have been established also in the Western prairies beyond the limits of natural 

 distribution. In Germany larger or smaller plantations were made in many localities near the 

 beginning of the century. 



The planting in this country has, however, not usually proceeded with a knowledge of proper 

 forestry practice. As a rule, plants have been set out too old, and hence the planting has proved 

 expensive; usually, also, it has been too wide spaced to secure the most desirable result in form 

 development. Another point also usually neglected is the admixture of other species to stimulate 

 the growth of the x>ines and possibly to reduce the expense of covering the ground. 



In Europe the majority of pine plantations made with Scotch Pine { Finns silvestris) is made 

 with one-year-old seedlings, which is done very cheaply and expeditiously, often on unprepared 

 ground, when one man may set 1,IU)0 to 1,500 plants in a day. 



Eor AVhite Pine, especially under our conditions, where the young plants have much to contend 

 with in the way of climatic ills, weed growth, etc., this method is probably not applicable. 



Two-year and even three-year old plants, grown in seed beds and once transplanted in nursery 

 rows, to produce a stocky root system and growth, will probably be more successful, being better 

 prepared to overcome adversities. 



The seedlings, grown Irom seed sown either broadcast or in drills in the seed beds, must be 

 shaded during the first two years, as is usutil with conifers in this country. After the second year 

 they will endure the hottest sun. The shade must be graduated according to the weather, as the 

 seedlings are liable to damp off the first season if too much shaded and to burn off if not shaded 

 enough. 



As there are about 1,800 seeds to the ounce, it will take about 5 to C ounces to the 100 feet of 

 drill, unless the seed be specially poor, when greater allowance will have to be made in proportion 



' We are likely to repeat in the Northwest, on an extensive scale, the history of several of the Eastern States. 

 Under inducements held out to encourage immigration, many settlers have been led to take up laud all through the 

 worst part of Michigan and Wisconsin, including the "barrens." They clear the land, seed it, if they can. with 

 clover, and put in other crops, work in the adjacent pine woods for a living, and " devilop the country,'' thus doing 

 for the State exactly what needs to be done and what the State has neglected to clo for itself; but it is a disastrous 

 experiment for the setth'rs. The many farms kept up in this way for a while may finally be abandoned, but the 

 whole region will then be in a gre.at measure secured against extensive tires, and the lands that have been plowed 

 and worked over will be in a better condition for reforesting. 



