FOREST PLANTING IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 



9 



COSTS OF DIFFERENT METHODS. 



Table 1 shows the cost of planting operations, exclusive of the cost 

 of the stock itself, where different species and methods were used. 



TABLE 1. Cost of planting with different species and methods. 



Table 1 is based largely on estimates of cost made by actual planters. 

 Since in most cases no exact records were kept the figures are only 

 approximate, though they show very closely the relative costs of the 

 different methods of planting. In order of cheapness the four princi- 

 pal methods rank as follows: Direct sowing of seed; planting in fur- 

 row; slit method; digging a hole for each tree. Apparent discrep- 

 ancies in the table are due to the special conditions of each case, such 

 as topography and soil, and the care exercised by individual planters. 



MERITS OF THE DIFFERENT METHODS. 



For those species to which it is adapted, direct sowing has the 

 advantages of rapidity and cheapness. On the other hand, the seed 

 may be eaten by birds or rodents, or it may be defective. Again, the 

 small size of the trees during the first year makes proper cultivation 

 difficult, nor can the method be relied upon in unfavorable sites or 

 seasons. In spite of these objections, however, it has p roved success- 

 60370 Bull. 15315 2 



