2 



farm Avoodlots in the Dakotas, Nebraska, and throughout the sandy 

 regions of the North Central States, wherever a better tree will not 

 thrive. 



METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 



Jack pine grows only from seed. Natural reproduction is very 

 abundant wherever there are old trees, as a good crop of seed falls 

 almost every year, and the percentage of germination is high. The 

 seeds ripen in the fall, and are easily kept over winter in any dry, 

 cool place. 



Like most other pines, the tree produces a strong tap-root, which, 

 in dry situations, may penetrate to a considerable depth. Where 

 water is not far from the surface, as in most parts of its natural 

 range, the deep roots are less developed, or they rot off after a time, 

 and strong laterals are sent out in their place. 



PLANTING. 



In planting jack pine it is best to use seedlings two or three years 

 old, which may be raised in nursery beds from seed planted either 

 in the fall or in the early spring. 



The young trees should be set out in the spring, late in April or 

 early in May. They may be planted in furrows, but where the 

 sand is light and apt to be blown about if disturbed it will be best 

 to place them in holes made with a spade or planting bar. As a 

 rule the proper spacing is 4 feet each way. 



It is usually advisable to plant jack pine alone, but green ash, 

 hackberry, and possibly qther hardy deciduous trees, which will not 

 overtop it, may be introduced as associates. 



CULTIVATION AND CARE. 



Under ordinary conditions plantations of jack pine need little 

 cultivation. It will often be necessary to let the young trees strug- 

 gle with wild grasses, because the latter can not be removed without 

 exposing the soil to displacement by wind. In a few years the 

 trees will grow above and kill out the grass, and as soon as the 

 tops interlace will establish good forest conditions within the 

 plantation. Where the tree is placed about the homestead and very 

 rapid growth is desired, the ground may be cultivated and then 

 mulched with straw or old hay. Plantations thus made and treated 

 will grow satisfactorily if fire and stock are kept out of them. 



This pine has been planted and grown very successfully in the 

 sandhills of Nebraska, where the trees have received no cultivation 

 at all. One small plantation there has produced 15 cords of wood 

 per acre in 42 years, and the trees are still growing at a good rate. 

 ' Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., November %4-> 1906. 



[Cir. 57] 



