CHAPTER IV 

 THE PRINCIPLES WHICH DETERMINE SPACING 



THE stand resulting from seeding and planting should be 

 sufficiently dense to form a closed canopy in from 6 to 12 years. 

 The time required will vary somewhat, depending upon the species 

 and the quality of the site. The earlier the closing of the canopy, 

 the sooner soil protection is attained and the less the danger of 

 its deterioration. If the stand is too dense, however, the amount 

 of growing space for each tree is reduced, growth and develop- 

 ment are retarded, progress in root expansion is checked, and 

 crown development is not adequate for best results. In arriving 

 at proper spacing, a compromise must be made between early canopy 

 and growing space. 



1. THE DENSITY OF THE STAND FROM DIRECT SEEDING 



Regeneration by direct seeding should result in at least twice 

 as many trees per acre two years after the seeding as are accept- 

 able in planting. The chief reasons for this are as follows : 



a. The stand is from 2 to 5 years behind one obtained by 

 planting and, when similarly spaced, the formation of a closed 

 canopy is correspondingly delayed. 



b. Because of the smaller size of the plants, there is usually 

 much greater loss before the trees become fully established. 



c. The stand is much more irregularly spaced; consequently, 

 the average number of trees per acre should be sufficient for ade- 

 quate density where it is the most open. 



d. The crop is more uneven in growth and development, hence 

 competition among the trees is not so keen. 



When market conditions will justify early and frequent thin- 

 nings, the reproduction from direct seeding can scarcely be too dense. 

 The early closing of the canopy gives soil protection, and the 

 taking out of the inferior and surplus trees at the proper time 

 provides growing space for those that remain. The best results 

 with beech and oak abroad are attained in direct seeding which 



52 



