It is absolutely necessary that a much larger number of trees be 

 planted on an acre than would be found in a mature forest. A 

 close, dense stand of trees is necessary while they are young in 

 order to produce a proper development in the future growth. The 

 close planting produces a crowded and shaded condition which 

 kills off the side branches when the trees are small, reduces the 

 number and size of the knots and finally makes a higher grade of 

 lumber. The dense stand also causes the trees to grow much 

 taller, and hence there will be more logs in a tree. The value of 

 this close planting is easily seen when we compare the difference 

 in trees which have naturally grown in a forest with those in the 

 open. 



There are, however, other considerations than growing the 

 highest possible grade of wood material. We all realize that some 

 soils will produce much larger quantities of farm crops than others. 

 The land that is most likely to be used for tree planting will be 

 the poorer, meager soils of a small productive capacity. Hence, 

 in order to make the growing of wood crops profitable, considera- 

 tion must be given to the quality and productive capacity of the 

 soil where the planting is to be done. If twelve hundred trees 

 per acre are planted, we would naturally expect to grow a tree 

 having a diameter of twelve inches in less time than we would if 

 there were seventeen hundred trees per acre. Therefore, in order 

 to make planting profitable, we must not only grow good timber 

 in dense stand, but at the same time aim at a profitable harvest 

 in the shortest possible period. 



Protection of Plantations. 



After the plantation is made it should be protected from fire. 

 Any light fire, even if it burns over only the dry grass among the 

 little trees will kill or injure them, because their bark is very thin. 

 The plantation should be protected also from cattle, sheep or other 

 animals. Grazing should not be permitted. 



