INVESTIGATIONS IN WHITE PINE PLANTATIONS. 19 



OBJECTS. 



In general the objects of the planter were as follows: 



(1) To demonstrate the practicability of forest planting in a for- 

 ested region. 



(2) To improve and utilize land which because of its remoteness 

 from market was of little agricultural value. 



(3) To make use of a large quantity of white pine seedlings which 

 had sprung up from a natural seed year. 



HISTOKY. 



In May, 1868, planting was begun on the larger and more southerly 

 of the two areas. The plantation was then extended westerly toward 

 Lake Winnepesaukee and south along the Wolf boro highway. Yearly 

 planting continued until 1874, when the small area one-half mile south 

 of Moultonboro was planted. In all, about 75 acres were planted 

 during this time, the greater part to white pine. 



Seedlings were collected from Mr. Adams's land, mostly from the 

 immediate neighborhood of the plantation, by a collector who guaran- 

 teed that the trees would grow or be replaced, and received $10 per 

 1,000 for his work. Each seedling was to be carefully lifted from the 

 ground with a spade, taking several inches of sod. They were spaced 

 about by 4 feet apart. 



The average number of trees set per day by one man was 300. 

 Extreme care was taken to make the trees succeed. One dry season 

 two men were employed for two weeks at $1.50 per day to water the 

 young trees. As a commercial forest the plantation is a failure, the 

 outlay having, with interest, amounted to more than the probable 

 return from the timber, but it teaches some very important lessons 

 on the handling of pine plantations. 



CONDITION OF THE FOREST. 



A very noticeable feature of this forest is the extreme slimness of 

 the trees. This is due to thick planting. As a consequence the 

 branches died while still small, most of them having attained a diam- 

 eter of less than one-half inch. The entire plantation was pruned to 

 a height of 6 feet, but the work was carelessly done, the branches 

 having been cut at about 1 inch from the tree. (See PI. XIII, figs. 

 1 and 2. Fig. 1 illustrates the way pruning has been done on the 

 Adams estate and many others. Fig. 2 shows the same tree properly 

 pruned.) 



The trees have grown better and larger where the land is low and 

 moist, forming so dense a shade as almost completely to bar under- 

 growth. Where the soil is heavier the white pine, while not so tall, 

 holds its crown better and is more healthy in appearance. 



