20 



Planting Stations. 



As the result of a recent inspection of the planting operations in the Pikes Peak 

 Forest Reserve by Mr. E. A. Sterling and Mr. G. W. Peavy, the Clyde nursery has been 

 abandoned and the work concentrated at the Bear Creek nursery. Successful seed- 

 ing production is impossible at Clyde because of the high elevation and short grow- 

 ing season. The work at Bear Creek will be put entirely on an experimental basis 

 for the present. 



Recent counts show that between 50 and 60 per cent of the 319,000 seedlings 

 planted in the Dismal River Forest Reserve last spring are alive. The loss was 

 chiefly caused by a period of dry, windy weather immediately following planting. 

 Most of the trees planted were 2 years old. Jt is expected to greatly reduce the loss 

 in the future by using older seedlings and by planting with the mattock instead of 

 with the spade. 'An experimental plantation was made in October to determine 

 the feasibility of fall planting. 



Cooperative Planting". 



A planting plan has been prepared by Mr. Flintham for the Bixby Ranch in the 

 San Diego Hills, Orange County, Cal. This covers an area of 7,000 acres, most of 

 which is the typical chaparral land of southern California. It is recommended that 

 3,000 acres be planted. The sugar gum is selected for the most extensive planting, 

 since it is expected that this species will endure the conditions upon the more ele- 

 vated and unfavorable portion of the tract. The gray and the lemon gums, as well 

 as two varieties of iron bark, are also recommended for timber. Black locust, 

 which, tho not indigenous to the western United States, is found to grow extremely 

 well in this part of California, is recommended for post production. It is estimated 

 that it will require 2,837,500 seedlings of all species to plant the area designated as 

 desirable planting sites. Close spacing is advised in order to reduce the amount of 

 cultivation. Thinning is advised after the fifth year and every second year there- 

 after until the stand reaches the age of 12 years. The trees are then to remain to* 

 develop to timber dimensions. It is estimated that the locust will become mer- 

 chantable in from ten to fifteen years. 



A nursery should be established for growing seedlings, and full instruction for 

 nursery operations is included in the plan. 



Recommendations for protection against fire provide for: 



Posting cloth fire- warning notices, printed in both Spanish and English. 



Establishment of patrol, a system including a telephone station. 



Fencing the greater portion of the tract to exclude live stock. 



The cost of planting is estimated at from $15 to $20 per acre. 



A planting plan prepared by Mr. Allen S. Peck for the lands of the Great Bear 

 Spring Company, of Oswego County, N. Y., has just been transmitted to the company. 



The plan considers both use and appearance. The soil is almost pure sand under- 

 laid with gravel, and for this reason the number of species that can be planted is 

 limited. Chestnut is the only hardwood recommended. The other trees, which 

 are conifers, are red pine, Scotch pine, white pine, Norway spruce, European larch, 

 tamarack, and arborvitse. The plan covers about 96 acres, and the area is divided 

 into five distinct planting sites. It is estimated that the total number of trees 

 required for planting will be 124,122. The plan includes detailed directions for 

 planting, and estimates the number of seedlings which can be planted per day. It 

 is expected that the plantation will reach merchantable size in from forty to sixty 

 years, with the exception of the chestnut and larch, which may be cut when about 

 20 years old. 



