GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 83 



the suppression of the poor individuals. When the young stand 

 is crowded the death of numerous individuals results in a wel- 

 come exclusion of the weak. As no planting compares in density 

 with a successful stand from seeding, the latter is more fully 

 composed of hardy and vigorous individuals due to the weaker 

 being crowded out. The following principles are set forth by 

 him in reference to seeding and planting: 



a. Only a dense position in early life enables a stand, no mat- 

 ter of what species, to produce the best results. 



6. Since in planting the spacing must always be wider than in 

 seeding, the latter is preferable in principle. 



c. Special conditions often make planting necessary. If they do 

 not, direct seeding or natural regeneration should be employed. 



Direct seeding is better adapted for the reforestation of recently 

 cut-over and burned areas than for afforestation. It is never 

 practicable on sites having a dense ground cover. It is often 

 used on very rocky ground where planting is difficult. In Saxony 

 the direct seeding of Scotch pine and Norway spruce is seldom 

 practiced. In Prussia Scotch pine is often regenerated by direct 

 seeding, some foresters advocating direct seeding and others plant- 

 ing even on the same quality of sites and under similar conditions. 

 In Scandinavia where more than one-fourth of the total artificial 

 regeneration is by direct seeding, coniferous forests are re-estab- 

 lished by this method at less cost than by planting. It is generally 

 favored by private foresters because of its comparatively low cost, 

 although there is more or less danger of failed places, of irregular 

 height growth, and the overcrowding of seedlings (Fig. 15). 



Little direct seeding was done in the United States before the 

 beginning of the present century. Prior to this time white pine 

 and some hardwoods had been sown in New England and a few 

 other eastern states. At the close of the last century Lukens 

 and others undertook direct seeding in an effort to transform 

 the chaparral-covered areas of southern California into coniferous 

 stands. This was followed by extensive sowings on the National 

 Forests, until in June, 1913, a total of 65,740 acres, including the 

 reseeding, 1 had been sown. Western yellow pine has been used 

 most extensively in this work, sowings having been made in nearly 

 all parts of its range. Douglas fir has been next in importance. 



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

 For., vol. VIII, p. 264. 1913.) 



