METHODS OF PROPAGATION. 



Chestnut plantations may be established by direct seeding or by the 

 use of nursery-grown seedlings. Seed may be purchased, or collected 

 from trees in the vicinity. To prevent drying out and consequent loss 

 of germinating power, collected seeds should be kept stratified in 

 moist sand until the following spring. 



Home-grown seedlings are usually superior to those purchased 

 from commercial dealers, and are much cheaper. The nursery 

 should be located on fresh, well-drained, fertile soil, under conditions 

 such as are usually present in an old garden spot. Thorough culti- 

 vation of the soil is required, but the preparation of seed beds is 

 unnecessary. 



Seed should be planted, 10 to 12 per linear foot, in nursery rows 

 18 inches apart. Care should be taken not to cover the seed more 

 than 1 inch deep. 



A bushel contains 6,500 to 8,000 nuts, sufficient to plant 650 linear 

 feet of nursery rows and to produce at least 4,000 plants. These 

 rows will cover an area of 975 square feet. While in the nursery, 

 seedlings require careful cultivation and should be kept entirely free 

 from weeds. 



PLANTING. 



When planting on permanent sites the trees should be set 5 or 6 

 feet apart each way, the width depending upon the quality of the site 

 and the possible market for the product of thinnings. In good 

 situations the wider spacing is advised. 



If the trees are to be grown directly from seed without transplant- 

 ing, seed spots should be prepared, spaced as above. Two or three 

 seeds should be planted in each and covered about 1 inch deep with 

 fine earth. Only one tree should be allowed to remain in each hill. 

 This method is recommended by many, and where there is no danger 

 of squirrels it will prove satisfactory and less expensive than the use 

 of seedlings. In general, however, the seedling plantation will be 

 safer and will give better results. 



The system of management best suited to the chestnut is the pure 

 coppice, with a rotation of from twenty-five to thirty-five years. 

 Coppice makes more rapid growth than seedling forest, and pro- 

 duces timber in many respects superior. The species also grows well 

 in mixtures, particularly with the white and red pines and the Euro- 

 pean larch, and also with the oaks, ashes, and maples. 



CULTIVATION AND CARE. 



On the prairies, plantations should be cultivated until the young 

 trees are well established, but in the East cultivation is unnecessary 



rCMr. 711 



