FOREST PLANTING IN" THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 21 



Hogs root up the soil and expose the tree roots to the air, or even 

 devour the roots themselves. In Iowa hogs completely destroyed one 

 plantation of European larch in this way. Young trees are very 

 likely to be rooted completely out of the ground. 



If shade and protection for stock can be obtained in no other way, 

 the animals can be admitted to one portion of a plantation and 

 excluded entirely from the other portions, which should be devoted 

 exclusively to the growing of timber. 



FIRE. 



Whenever there is any danger from fire, definite steps should be 

 taken to guard against it. Most of the smaller plantations already 

 established are located near the owner's residence, where they can be 

 kept under observation, but in some of the larger plantations, where a 

 close watch has not been kept, fires have done considerable damage. 

 The owner of a large plantation should certainly make some provision 

 to protect it, especially if it is near a railroad or is likely to be visited 

 by picnic parties. Fire lines might be constructed, and a general 

 watch should always be kept. Roads often make good fire lines, and 

 when so used should be kept free from grass. Where no roads pass 

 through the tract, fire lines from 6 to 8 feet wide may be plowed 

 around the area, or else a strip of this width burned or otherwise kept 

 cleared of all inflammable material. A fire line ceases to be a fire line 

 wherever it becomes covered with litter or a heavy growth of grass. 



DISEASES. 



The diseases to which the different kinds of trees are subject and the 

 methods of combating them can best be ascertained by consulting 

 with the Office of Forest Pathology, Bureau of Plant Industry, Wash- 

 ington, D. C., or the State experiment station. Prospective planters 

 are strongly advised to do this before purchasing their trees. Nursery 

 stock, particularly that from abroad, is often diseased. 



MISTAKES IN TREE PLANTING. 



Forest plantations have too often been started by those with little 

 knowledge of the requirements of the trees set out, and who were 

 often influenced in their choice of species by advertisements of tree 

 agents. It is little wonder, then, that mistakes have been made. 

 Planting operations should not be undertaken until a thorough inquiry 

 has convinced the owner as to which species is best adapted to his pur- 

 pose and which will succeed on the planting site selected. Advice and 

 aid can be obtained by prospective planters from their respective State 

 foresters, a list of whom is given in the Appendix. The Forest Service 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture also gives advice in 

 regard to the best species to plant and methods of planting. 



