50 FOREST PLANTING. 



in regard to the amelioration of the soil, to be preferred 

 to those with thin foliage, as Oak, Maple, Ash, Elm, 

 Birch, Alder, Aspen, Acacie, Pine, Larch, because the 

 former furnish a continual cover to the ground, and create 

 an always increased producing capability of the soil, 

 while the latter, with their increased growth, draw for 

 their subsistence more upon the soil, winch, on account 

 of the thin foliage of these trees, is continually decreasing 

 in fertility, owing to its exposure to sun and air. 



The greatest difficulties beset the forest-planter in the 

 selection of trees to be planted, when denuded wood- 

 lands, and poor ones at that, in mountainous regions are 

 to be reforested. Here we must not overlook the fact 

 that, before the final stock of trees can be planted, often 

 a cover of the ground has to be created by other easily 

 and rapidly growing forest-trees. Under these, the young 

 plants of the future stock of trees may be safely devel- 

 oped, until they are able to shift for themselves. An il- 

 lustration of this is the Beech, Hornbeam, Fir, and 

 other shade-enduring trees. These are, when young, 

 so sensitive in regard to the influence of the sun and 

 wind, that the seedlings, even upon the richest soil, will 

 not thrive, unless shaded by densely foliaged trees. 



The determination upon the proper trees to be planted 

 on a given locality, should always be preceded by a care- 

 ful examination in regard to soil, site, and surroundings 

 of the place. As woody plants, except when very young, 

 obtain the most part of their nourishment through the 

 gases in the air, and not from the soil, it is obvious that 

 the chemical conditions of the soil do not play such 

 an important part in the development of trees, as is the 

 case with grasses and other agricultural plants. But the 

 mechanical or physical condition of the soil is of the 

 greatest importance to the growth of forest trees, and, 

 therefore, the investigation into this point should never 



