THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



and transplants are left for one year in their beds; 50% of I, 

 II and III, if left for two years; and 33%, if left for three years. 



B. Form of beds. Beds are usually four to six feet wide, 

 separated by paths one or two feet wide, the beds preferably ele- 

 vated over the paths by from three to twelve inches, so as to 

 cheek the migration of insects, mice and moles; and so as to allow 

 of better aeration of the soil. Sometimes the beds are kept in 

 board frames, an expensive though useful arrangement. 



C. In selecting the site of a nursery the following factors 

 must be considered: 



I. Soil: A sandy loam or marl is best for seedlings. The 

 correct degree of looseness is secured by mixing sawdu.st, spent tan, 

 humus, ashes and weeds with the mineral soil. The soil should have 

 no stones, in order to allow of proper seed planting and in order 

 to facilitate the treatment of the plants. 



II. Exposure: The best exjjosure is a gentle northwest slope. 

 The bottom of a valley is too frosty in spring. Southwest and 

 southeast slopes are subject to rapid atmospheric changes. Eastern 

 aspects invite damage by frost. 



III. Proximity to water and possibility of irrigation. 



IV. Accessibility for laborers and distance from ranger's house. 



D. Fertilizing: Stationary forest gardens require continuous 

 fertilizing. Crops of seedlings exhaust the soil like crops of grain. 



The following table exhibits, in pounds per acre, the amounts 

 of fertilizing matter annually consumed by Pine seedlings, Pine 

 poles and crops of rye. 



Yellow pine 



Fertilizing matter. one year old. 



Phosphoric acid 9.8 lbs. 



Potash 20.7 lbs. 



Calcium 17.2 lbs. 



Magnesia 3.0 lbs. 



Sulphuric acid 0.0 lbs. 



The following fertilizers are used in forest gardens: 



I. Animal manure, which is considered best. Cattle manure 

 is preferred to horse manure; on clay soil, however, horse manure 

 is better. Heavy weeds come up from stable manure which has 

 not had time to fully decompose. 



II. Commercial fertilizers: Experiments conducted with super- 

 phosphate, bone meal and so on have failed to yield conclusive 



87 



