9 



These must be planted in holes, dug with a spade, large enough 

 to receive the roots spread in natural order. 



The reason for planting the seeds and seedlings so much 

 thicker than the trees can grow is in order to shade the ground 

 as soon as possible, so as to keep down the weeds and to pro- 

 tect the ground from the drying effects of the sun and wind, 

 and to develop trees with tall, straight stems, clear of large 

 limbs to as great a height as possible. When not crowded 

 trees develop short stems that divide into several large limbs 

 near the ground, and are of little or no value for lumber, poles, 

 or posts. 



FIG. 166. A three-man crew planting evergreen seedlings in lister furrows. In this 

 organization one man carries a supply of trees and two men dig holes and plant. 

 [Courtesy Forest Service.] 



PROTECTION. 



The first attention that newly planted trees will demand 

 will be protection against weeds, which if not cut will overtop 

 and shade them out. This protection should consist of cut- 

 ting the weeds from an area of ground extending at least two 

 feet in all directions from the tree. If all the weeds can be 

 cut from among the trees so much the better. When only a 

 part of the weeds are cut there is danger of fire during the 

 fall, winter, and early spring months. Young trees are easily 

 killed by fire, and protection against this source of danger is 

 very necessary. 



Young trees are seriously injured and often killed by live 

 stock trampling the ground and eating the leaves and twigs. 



