14 REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



Suggestion for making a Pine Plantation among Dense Hardwood 



Sprouts. 



When pine is greatly desired on land offering strong resist- 

 ance by reason of its dense hardwood sprout growth, cuttings 

 may be made about 12 to 15 feet apart, and the pines planted 

 in these paths with the usual spacing. It is of course neces- 

 sary to keep the area on which the pine is planted free from 

 brush. In time a mixed stand will result, composed of pro- 

 tected pine and the best specimens of the prevailing natural 

 hardwoods, in parallel sections. The State Department of 

 Forestry has not undertaken this practice on any large scale, 

 but recommends it on the basis of experiments thus far made. 



Another good method which has been tried with success on 

 several of our reforested lots is as follows: with a bush scythe 

 or bill hook cut all hardwood sprouts around each pine over a 

 space about 5 feet in diameter. This allows the pine to keep 

 its main shoot free to the light, and results in a good mixed 

 stand of pine and hardwood. 



Fire Lines. 



In event of undue fire hazard a good means of protection is 

 to make a fire line around the plantation on the side where the 

 greatest danger lies. This is done by cutting the brush and 

 clearing the ground of all inflammable material on a strip about 

 50 feet wide. Warning notices may be obtained by applica- 

 tion to the State Forester. The fire line is not practicable 

 unless it is kept clean, but when cared for it often proves a 

 vantage point from which destructive fires approaching from a 

 distant area may be turned back and ordinary brush fires may 

 be easily managed. 



Types of Land Suitable for Reforestation. 



The total area of Massachusetts is about 5,321,787 acres, of 

 which 2,672,950 acres is land adapted only to the growing of 

 trees. Of this area there are about 700,000 acres which at the 

 present time constitute practically worthless tracts, being simply 

 a tax to the owners, who at a very small outlay could bring 



