THE PROTECTION OF SEEDING AND PLANTING SITES 177 



screens. The successful germination in these spots and the com- 

 plete failure in nearby, unprotected spots .show the important place 

 that animal life holds in reforestation by direct seeding. 1 



Greeley 2 states that probably the greatest obstacle to refores- 

 tation on the National Forests by direct seeding is the destruc- 

 tion of the seed by rodents. Furthermore, this obstacle is ex- 

 tremely difficult to overcome because each area is a problem in 

 itself, as a study must be made of the rodents present and their 

 food habits. 



Almost without exception regeneration by direct seeding throughout 

 the entire Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast regions is impossible 

 without protecting the site from rodents. 



Although this source of injury is not so prevalent in eastern 

 United States, squirrels are sufficiently numerous in many local- 

 ities to make the regeneration of walnut, chestnut, and many oaks 

 impossible by direct seeding without first destroying them. 



When rodents abound, protection can be attained only when it 

 is initiated before the regeneration starts. Experience has proved 

 that in direct seeding, squirrels, gophers, chipmunks, mice, and 

 other rodents cannot be guarded against by coating the seeds 

 with such substances as red lead, coal tar, copper sulphate, and 

 other materials that are distasteful to them. The coating has 

 very little effect, as most rodents readily remove the kernel of the 

 seed from its covering. 



2. Destroying Rodents by Poisoning 



The expense involved in trapping and shooting is so great that 

 it can seldom be resorted to in clearing an area of small, obnoxious 

 animals. In most instances, the better plan is through some 

 system of poisoning. Some months before direct seeding, the site 

 should be gone over carefully in order to ascertain the number 

 and kinds of seed-eating animals that infest it or are likely to in- 

 fest it when the seeding is done. A careful examination of the 

 ground, together with the use of traps for a few days, ought to 

 indicate the course to pursue. 



The use of poisoned bait to free an area from rodents is ex- 



1 Cox, W. T.: Reforestation on the national forests. (U. S. Forest Service, 

 Bui. 98. 1911.) 



2 Greeley, W. B.: Reforestation on the national forests. (Proc. Soc. Am. 

 For., vol. VIII, pp. 261-277. 1913.) 



