of reservoir watersheds with forest growth, tree planting should be 

 practiced. While the immediate object of this forest planting will be 

 protective, timber crops will eventually be produced which will yield 

 good profits. 



THE WOODLOT. 



Nearly every farm has at least a few acres which are of little value 

 for growing agricultural crops. This land should be set aside for a 

 woodlot and devoted to the production of fuel, fence posts, and tim- 

 ber for farm uses. Large open spaces in existing woodlots can be 

 restocked with valuable species, thus making every part of the land 

 productive. This is best done on lands from which the trees have 

 recently been cut. In addition to producing wood material, the farm 

 woodlot may, in some instances, be made to serve as a shelterbelt to 

 protect the buildings or orchards from wind or snow. 



METHODS OF PLANTING. 



The best method of establishing a forest plantation is by the use of 

 nursery stock. It is usually advisable to purchase plant material 

 from a commercial nursery. In extensive operations, however, it may 

 prove more profitable to produce the planting stock in a home nur- 

 sery. Such a nursery, however, will demand the careful supervision 

 of one experienced in growing young trees. Advice in regard to 

 nursery practice is contained in Extract 376 from the Yearbook of 

 the Department of Agriculture for 1905, which can be had upon ap- 

 plication to the Forester. 



Forest planting must be done by simple and cheap methods. Prep- 

 aration of the planting site by plowing and harrowing is not essential, 

 but is best if the land has been previously utilized for crops. Such 

 preparation and cultivation improve the early growth of the trees, 

 but add to the initial cost of the plantation. 



Trees should be planted with the least possible exposure of the 

 roots. The rootlets of the plant will dry out if exposed to the air 

 for even a short time. This is especially true of conifers. Some of 

 the broadleaf species may, with proper attention, live even after the 

 roots have dried out, but conifers are far less likely to survive. 



When the seedlings are received, they should be unpacked at once 

 and their roots dipped into a pail containing thin mud. Until time 

 for planting in the field the trees should be " heeled-in " according to 

 the following method : Dig a trench deep enough to bury the roots 

 and part of the stems. The trench should run east and west, with 

 its south bank at a slope of about 30 to the surface of the ground. 

 A layer of trees should be placed in the trench on its sloping side, the 

 tops toward the south. The roots and stems should be covered with 

 fresh earth dug from the second trench, in which a second layer of 



[Cir. 100] 



