THE FARMER ^S WOOD LOT 399 



Reforestation. — Suppose your wood lot, like so many others, 

 all through the East, has been neglected and abused, so that it 

 is all worn out. No reproduction, no desiral)le trees. The thing 

 to do is to plant. Suppose you have some waste land producing 

 nothing. Plant it up to forest trees and make it do its share. 



It is not practical to tell you here just what species to plant. 

 Each farmer has more or less of a special problem, and he ought 

 to get a forester's advice before he starts to plant. Here is the 

 idea. He wants some species that will supply a local demand in 

 a reasonable length of time. At the same time the species must 

 be hardy in the climate ; adapted to the situation ; suited to the 

 soil; and able to withstand insect and fungous attacks with 

 which the region is infected. 



As a rule a short time investment is the most profitable, and a 

 rapidly growing species is needed. Perhaps there is a pulp mill 

 near by, or a cheese box factory, or an excelsior mill. If so, 

 Carolina poplar, which is a very rapid gromng tree, can be 

 grown at a profit. 



If there is demand for box boards, white pine on a short rota- 

 tion will fill the bill. An enormous amount of this species is 

 grown on small areas in Massachusetts for this purpose. This 

 tree has several dangerous enemies that may make it unwise to 

 plant in certain localities. 



If there is a willow basket and furniture factory in your neigh- 

 borhood see if you cannot raise Avillows for them at a profit. 

 Consider the local demand, and then pick a species that will fill 

 it, and at the same time be suited to the region and the locality. 



In New England and the Middle Atlantic States, the conife- 

 rous species most recommended for planting are the White pine. 

 Red pine, Scotch pine, European larch, Norway spruce, and White 

 cedar. Among the hardwoods the ones most used are the White 

 ash, Yellow poplar. Sugar maple, Black cherry, Black walnut, 

 Carolina poplar, Red oak, Sycamore, Basswood, Black locust, 

 and Catalpa. The last two species are recommended for fence 

 posts because of their rapid growth and durability. However, 

 with the approved methods of timber preservation that we now 

 have, durability may be sacrificed for rapidity of growth. Thus 

 Cottonwood even makes excellent fence posts when treated mth 

 creosote. 



The method of field jilanting is simple. The soil is lifted mth 

 a mattock, the roots of the young tree placed in the opening, 

 and the soil pressed back around the roots. It is very important 

 that the roots of the seedlings should not be allowed to dry out. 



