HERMAN H. CHAPMAN 49 



since a full stocking of plants may be secured that will 

 crowd out weeds. But where seedlings can be had at rea- 

 sonable figures it is best to purchase them. Upon farm 

 lands, there is considerable interest in the planting of 

 trees to produce fence posts. Where such small materi- 

 als are desired, the trees could be set a little closer than 

 6 feet, since thinnings can be made for fuel and posts are 

 useful at small sizes. Some species, as hardy catalpa, 

 have been advocated for universal planting, when experi- 

 ence shows that they succeed only in a narrow range. 

 Catalpa thrives only on the best of soils, and on sandy 

 land, or dry soils, does not grow as well as other species. 

 Many experiment stations are testing the growth of na- 

 tive species, and numerous bulletins may be had from 

 the U. S. Forest Service on trees suitable for planting 

 in different localities, so that there is very little excuse 

 for committing serious blunders. 



But planting affects the larger problems of the man- 

 agement of forest tracts only in a very small way. Most 

 lands that will be devoted to forests are already forest 

 lands, wholly or in part covered with trees, or else burned 

 and cut over. If there are seed trees of any description 

 near enough to seed up the burned or logged areas, some 

 kind of tree growth will come up. It may not be very 

 valuable now, but there is a possibility of its becoming 

 so with rising values for wood of all kinds. In case of 

 large burns, following logging, where practically no seed 

 trees remain, planting would be the most sensible means 

 of restocking, provided the funds can be obtained for the 

 purpose. 



Cutting the Old Timber to Secure Reproduction. 



A second general plan to secure a new crop of seed- 

 lings can be applied if the land is put under management 

 before the old timber is removed. This timber is produc- 

 ing seed, and can be cut in such a way that the seed will 



