PLANTING. 



Seedlings may be planted when 2 years old. The planting should 

 be done very early in the spring, as the buds start early. The trees 

 should be placed from 4 to 6 feet apart each way, according to local 

 conditions. In the Middle West the narrower spacing is preferable. 

 In prairie planting the soil should be thoroughly prepared, but in 

 the East such preparation is not necessary. 



Mixed plantations are most desirable, since European experience 

 shows that pure plantations of larch do not thrive for any length of 

 time. The larch may be planted to advantage with the following- 

 species: Chestnut, white and green ash, white and slippery elm, 

 Scotch pine, red pine, white pine, Norway spruce, and red cedar. 

 Often three or four of these species may be advantageously combined, 

 as the European larch, white elm, white ash, red cedar, or white pine. 

 In such mixtures, however, considerable care and skill are required 

 in the thinnings, and simpler combinations are usually preferable. 

 Chestnut and larch, and red and white pine and larch, make admir- 

 able mixtures for planting on a large scale. In such mixtures the 

 larch should be in the proportion of one to three or more. 



Because of the imperious demand of the larch for light, pure stands 

 are decidedly unsafe; the tops demand considerable growing space, 

 and the weaker trees die out to such an extent as to expose the soil 

 and impair forest conditions. Furthermore, pure forests are much 

 more liable to serious insect damages. 



CULTIVATION AND CARE. 



In the prairie region forest plantations of European larch should be 

 thoroughly cultivated until the trees are able to compete successfully 

 with encroaching grasses. In the East cultivation after planting is 

 not required. 



Plantations should receive full protection against fire and stock. 

 Any serious damage from insects or fungi should be reported and 

 specimens sent to the Department of Agriculture for suggestion as to 

 method of control. 



Approved. 



JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary. 



WASHINGTON, D. C., November 24, 1906. 



[Cir. 70] 



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