THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WOODLOT 



125 



trees per acre; spacing five feet, 1,740 trees; four feet, 2,720 trees. The 

 expense of planting is therefore greatly increased by close spacing. The 

 advantages of close planting are that the ground is shaded sooner, thus 

 getting the soil in good condition more quickly ; and that the lower branches 

 die while still small, thus greatly increasing the chance that the trees will 

 shed the branches. Six by six feet is probably close enough for hard- 

 woods, and on good soil for evergreens that grow fairly rapidly after the 

 first few years, such as 

 pine and larch. If on 

 poor soil, or if planting 

 an evergreen that 

 grows very slowly for 

 a number of years (as 

 spruce or hemlock) , 

 it may be well to plant 

 five by five feet. The 

 spacing should be kept 

 fairly regular, but it 

 is not worth while to 

 spend much time in 

 being sure that each 

 tree is in exactly the 

 right spot. 



The above spacing 

 applies to planting 

 where there are not 

 already some trees. 

 Planting is also fre- 

 quently desirable 

 where the ground is 

 partly covered with 

 young timber or with 

 underbrush, in order, 

 to get more trees of 

 the best kinds or to fill up small openings. In such work the trees will be 

 planted wherever there is a chance, rather than where they will make reg- 

 ular spacing. The number of trees planted per acre will vary widely ; if the 

 average spacing is about ten feet, about 400 trees per acre will be used. 



Planting season. Planting should begin as early in the spring as the 

 ground can be worked. Hardwood trees should not be planted after the 

 buds have opened. It is better to finish the planting of evergreens, also, 

 before growth starts, but they can be planted after the new shoots -are 



FIG. 218. Young trees should stand sufficiently close together 

 to insure a thorough shading of the ground within a few 

 years, and to cause the lower branches to die while still small 



