AMERICAN SYLVICULTURE 



tips show signs of growth." This experience is entirelj- at variance 

 with the universal European experience. Conifers are very sensitive 

 against loss of root fibres. Fresli tips, evidently, are most apt to 

 be injured in handling or by drought. 



The pruning of tlie root system is a necessary evil in the case 

 of very long tap roots. Conifers do not allow of it. Badly damaged 

 roots may be clipped with a sliarp knife just above tlie damaged 

 point. 



B. The shaftlet: Crooks are not injurious, the plant healing 

 them quickly. Slender plants are not desirable, partly because they 

 sway badly in the wind, thus getting loose in the soil; partly 

 because slender shafts are due to an excessively close position in 

 the nurseries. In the case of broad-leaved seedlings one or two 

 years old the shaft of spindling specimens may be cut-off without 

 lasting injury (not in conifers). 



C. The buds: The buds must have a healthy color, a large >^ize 

 and a goodly number. Small buds prove the plant to be weak; so 

 that it has a poor chance to withstand the hardships of transplant- 

 ing. In conifers, the condition of the buds is especially telling. 

 Poor and few buds in liardwoods render it advisable ito lop the 

 stemlets. 



Paragraph XX. A^e, size and number of seed- 

 lings used. 



A. Young plants are more easily transplanted than old 

 plants, the loss of roots being smaller. Large saplings (10 feet high 

 to 4 inches in diameter) are transplanted at great expense and great 

 risk. Tliey must 1)6 transplanted with big balls of dirt attached. 



B. The number of plants used in Europe varies between 

 1,000 and 40,000 specimens per acre in case of Pines, Spruces and 

 Beeches. The advantage of a large number of small plants is: 



I. Better chance for nature to select the fittest. 



II. Less reinforcing required. 



III. Even unexperienced planters can be used. 



IV. Plant material is very cheap. 



V. Larger returns from first thinning and clearer boles. 



On the other hand, the advantage of planting stronger seedlings, 

 especially transplants three to six years old, lies in the following 

 points: 



VI. On poor soil, strong plants have a better cliance. 



VII. Older plants have already overcome the " measles " of 

 childhood ( — fungi, insect diseases — ) to a large extent. 



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