THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



planting best, bunch planting frequent in mountains. Transplants 

 three to five years old are preferable. Plant in holes, never in 

 clefts. Badly affected by deep planting. Spring planting forms 

 the rule except in high mountains. High atmospheric moisture is 

 a prerequisite for Spruce. Do not trim. Xumber of plants per 

 acre from 1,500 transplants to 10,000 seedlings. Picea eScelsa might 

 replace P. rubens (the former being cheaper), if the resistance to 

 snow-breaks shown by rubens were equalled by excelsa. Planta- 

 tions twelve years old should fully cover the ground. 



Firs: Seed should be planted in fall. Rills close, say four 

 inches; cover, one-half inch. Early growth very slow; lath screens 

 very essential, owing to sensitiveness of youngsters to heat and 

 cold. Transplants five years old are best. Planting on open ground 

 is dangerous; imderplanting is very advisable. Species most planted 

 are Abies pectinata, balsamea, concolor. 



Larch, or Tamarack: The European and Japanese Larch 

 are scattering species, doing badly in pure stands. Growth in early 

 youth is rapid. Seedlings two years old and transplants three years 

 old are preferred for forest planting. The distance of the rills, 

 and the transplanting distance must be comparatively wide. Seed- 

 lings might be cleft planted; but hole planting forms the rule. 

 Fall planting necessary. Larch permits of heavy trimming. Mulch 

 seeds for one week before planting. European Larch does well at 

 Biltmore and in the Adirondacks. 



Hemlock: Grows very slowly in youth. Seedbeds require 

 heavy sheltering (under cloth screens). Transplant the two year 

 olds, and plant the five year olds under cover in the woods. 



Douglas Fir: .Seeds are still expensive; hence transplants 

 four years old are usual, though seedlings two years old are certain 

 of success. Hot-house treatment of seeds secures early and simul- 

 taneous sprouting. Plant seedlings in open ground, not under cover. 

 Plantations made near London, England, lose the long top shoots 

 by sea winds; in the Adirondacks, they suffer from frost; at Bilt- 

 more, the growth is strikingly poor, possibly due to the deficiency 

 in atmospheric humidity. Plants fourteen years old are hardly chest 

 high; plants eleven years old only knee high. In all cases the 

 Washington variety is used. Varietas glauca, of Colorado, grows 

 slowly, and is more haixly. 



Red Cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) : Seed lies dormant for one 

 summer. Seedlings two years old are ready for planting. High 

 lath screens in nurseries advisable (Green). Very slow growth. 

 Shade bearing. 99 



