FORESTRY AND CONSERVATION 349 



soil) . Conifers can be planted later in spring and earlier in fall than 

 broad-leafed trees. 



The density of the trees is a matter in which most planters fail. 

 The advantages of close planting lie in the quicker shading of the 

 soil, hence the better preservation of its moisture and improved 

 growth and form development of the crop. These advantages must 

 be balanced against the increased cost of of close planting. The 

 closer the planting, the sooner will the plantation be self-sustaining 

 and the surer the success. 



If planted in squares, or, better still, in quincunx order (the 

 trees in every other row alternating at equal distances), which is 

 most desirable on account of the more systematic work possible and 

 the more complete cover which it makes, the distance should not be 

 more than 4 feet, unless for special reasons and conditions, while 2 

 feet apart is not too close, and still closer planting is done by nature 

 with the best success. The following numbers of trees per acre are 

 required when planting at distances as indicated : 



2 by 4 feet 5,445 



3 by 3 feet 4,840 



3 by 4 feet 3,630 



4 by 4 feet. 2,722 



of the plantation may be made 



by iy 2 feet 19,360 



iy 2 by 2 feet 14,520 



2 by 2 feet 10,890 



2 by 3 feet 7,260 



To decrease expense, the bulk 



of the cheapest kinds of trees they may serve as soil cover and sec- 

 ondary or nurse crop, the main crop of from 300 to 600 trees to con- 

 sist of better kinds, and with better planting material, mainly of 

 light-needing species. These should be evenly disposed through the 

 plantation, each closely surrounded by the nurse crop. It is of 

 course, understood that not all trees grow up ; a constant change in 

 numbers by the death (or else timely removal) of the overshaded 

 takes place, so that the final crop shows at 100 years a close cover, 

 with hardly 300 trees to the acre. 



After-culture is not entirely avoidable, especially under un- 

 favorable climatic conditions, and if the planting was not close 

 enough. Shallow cultivation between the rows is needed to prevent 

 weed growth and to keep the soil open, until it is shaded by the 

 young trees, which may take a year with close planting and two or 

 three years with rows 4 by 4 feet apart, the time varying also with 

 the species. It is rare that a plantation succeeds in all its parts ; 

 gaps or fail places occur, as a rule, and must be filled in by addition- 

 al planting as soon as possible, if of larger extent than can be closed 

 up in a few years by the neighboring growth. When the soil is 

 protected by a complete leaf canopy, the forest crop may be con- 

 sidered as established, and the after-treatment will consist of judi- 

 cious thinning. 



How to Treat the Wood Lot. In the northeastern States it is 

 the custom to have connected with the farm a piece of virgin wood- 

 land, commonly called the wood lot. Its object primarily is to 

 supply the farmer with the firewood, fence material, and such di- 

 mension timbers as he may need from time to time for repairs on 

 buildings, wagons, etc. 



