22 PRACTICAL TREE-PLANTING IN OPERATION. 



at 3 to 5 feet from the ground. As the object of the owner was to 

 secure straight, clear boles, the branching was considered a defect. 

 The trees were therefore cut back to the ground, leaving, however, 

 several strips of 3 rows each at uniform distances apart, extending 

 east and west through the plantation as windbreaks for the tender 

 growth of the next season. The stump of eacli tree so cut back threw 

 out several sprouts which reached a height of from 6 to 12 feet the fol- 

 lowing season. The next winter most of the sprouts were cut away, 

 leaving only the most vigorous one at each stump to form the tree. 

 During the following year the upward growth continued, side branches 

 appearing at heights varying from 8 to 12 feet. According to Mr. 

 Yaggy's statement, given below, cultivation ceased after the third 

 year. After this the shade of the trees became so dense that weeds 

 and grass did not grow. The accumulation of leaves soon formed a 

 mulch, so that the transition from a cultivated field to a dense young 

 forest with excellent conditions of forest floor and cover was complete. 



Thinning began in the older parts of the plantation in the winter of 

 1897- 7 9S. After six seasons' growth from the time of cutting back, 

 2,500 trees were cut from an 80-acre tract, and the next year 13,000 

 trees were removed from the same tract. In each cutting only the 

 largest trees were taken. Each tree removed made 2 posts, the larger 

 with a butt diameter of from 4 to 6 inches, and the smaller of from 2J 

 to 3J inches. The posts were sold at the plantation, the lower cuts 

 bringing 10 cents each and the upper ones from 4 to 6 cents each. 

 About one-eighth of the trees were removed in these two cuttings. An 

 illustration of the present appearance of this plantation is shown in 

 Plate IV, fig. 1. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Yaggy, valuation measurements of two 

 typical areas of one-half acre each, one on the exterior and one on the 

 interior of the plantation, were made in January, 1900, under the direc- 

 tion of the Division of Forestry. The measurements were made by the 

 foreman of the farm, working under the following instructions: 



Mark off one-half acre on the north edge of the older plantation, representing an 

 average of the outer area of the plantation. This area should extend 10 rods south, 

 including 27 rows of trees, and 8 rods west. The trees on this area are to be counted 

 and their diameters measured with calipers, at heights of 1 and 7 feet. When meas- 

 uring the trees a record is to be made of the number of posts and stakes each would 

 furnish at the present time, and the value of each reckoned on previous sales from 

 the plantation. A record is also to be made of the value of the wood contained in 

 the parts of the tree unfit for posts and stakes. The measurements and records for 

 each tree are to be tabulated upon sheets forwarded from the Division of Forestry. 

 These sheets are ruled into columns headed to show the number of the tree, the diam- 

 eter 1 foot above ground, the diameter 7 feet above ground, number of posts the tree 

 will make, value of posts, number of stakes, value of stakes, value of wood, and 

 total value of tree. As few stumps as possible are to be included in the areas men- 

 tioned, but where trees have been cut the diameters of the stumps are to be taken 

 and an estimate made of the value of the posts and stakes obtained from them. 



The same measurements are to be taken on a half acre similarly laid off, represent- 



