104 The Farm Woodlot 



that it might be more economical to resort to planting. 

 Three or four years might be gained by planting instead 

 of seeding, and where time is considered, planting would 

 again be advisable. Small treeless areas that are to be 

 given over to tree growing had better be planted rather 

 than seeded. If the woodlot has a crop of mature trees 

 ready for removing, and a new crop of trees of the same 

 kind is desirable, then it is a matter of replacing the old 

 crop. 



Since, however, it is very seldom that a piece of wood- 

 land has all its trees fit for cutting at the same time, and 

 consequently removed at the same time, it becomes a 

 problem of filling in open places in which trees have 

 been taken out rather than to produce an entire new crop. 

 Where the entire crop is removed, it would be better to 

 plant seedlings at once in order to prevent a crop of brush 

 and weeds from choking out seedlings planted later. On 

 the other hand, if a cut-over area is practically clean, the 

 soil might be prepared by dragging or harrowing and 

 small seeds be sown broadcast. Large seed, such as the 

 oaks and hickories, should be planted in furrows or in 

 holes made by a stick, without preparing the soil. In 

 either case the crop of brush and weeds that quickly 

 springs up after a piece of woodland is cut over must be 

 considered in producing a new crop of trees. The nature 

 of this brush and weed crop must be understood before 

 either seeding or planting can be determined intelligently. 



Direct seeding may be either broadcast or partial. 

 Broadcast seeding implies a sowing of any area in much 

 the same way as wheat or oats is sown by hand in the 

 field. Partial seeding implies the seeding of small areas 



