FOREST PLANTING 

 ESTABLISHING THE PLANTATION 



EDMUND SECREST 



In planting a woods or grove methods should be followed 

 which will incur the least cost and at the same time insure the best 

 results. Unnecessary expense will be entailed in forest planting 

 unless the most economical methods are employed. 



PLANTING STOCK 



Plantings may be established artificially by the use of seed- 

 lings, seed, or cuttings. The trees must not be too large, yet of 

 sufficient root and top development to insure growth in possible 

 competition with weeds and grass. Either seedlings or seedlings 

 which have been transplanted in nursery rows are generally used 

 and give best results. Whether seedlings or transplants are used 

 will depend upon the species and the character and condition of the 

 planting site. 



Seedling stock is the most economical when it can be used sat- 

 isfactorily. Transplants cost more on account of the labor in- 

 volved in resetting the trees. In the case of practically all hard- 

 woods 1 or 2-year-old seedlings may be used successfully in plant- 

 ing. In heavy sod or on land where there is competition with 

 brush, it may be desirabK ^occasionally to use the better-rooted 

 transplants. 



Direct seeding on the planting site is sometimes practicable in 

 the case of the nut-bearing trees and the oaks. Plantations estab- 

 lished by planting the seed are most economical, for they eliminate 

 the necessity of purchasing seedlings, and seeds may be planted 

 with less labor than seedlings. The objection to direct seeding is 

 that rodents squirrels, chipmunks, etc. dig up the seeds for 

 their food. This occurs in the case of walnut, hickory, and even 

 the oaks and in some parts of Ohio it is difficult to obtain a stand 

 on this account. Rodents are especially partial to hickory nuts 

 and walnuts. 



Again in heavy grass, weed, or brush growth, direct seeding 

 may fail unless the little seedlings are given protection to prevent 

 suppression. In grass or heavy sod it is well to plow the ground 



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