MIXTURES USED AND THEIR COMPARATIVE VALUE. 29 



Near Winchester, N. H., in a 2-acre cut-over area which is sur- 

 rounded by old pines, 596 seedlings were found on a strip 200 feet long 

 by s feet wide, or at the rate of 15,8-13 to the acre; and on a second 

 strip 250 feet long by 8J feet broad, 109 seedlings, or at the rate of 

 8,725 per acre. In places the undergrowth was so dense that repro- 

 duction was not possible. The young trees vary from 1 inches to 7 

 feet in height, and form a most excellent stand. 



While it is to be said that the above counts represent better than 

 average conditions, the fact remains that with a little care, provided 

 there are seed trees, a stand of white pine, whether native or planted, 

 may be reproduced at little expense. 



MIXTURES USED AND THEIR COMPARATIVE VALUE. 



In early planting a great variety of mixtures were used. Some of 

 these proved successful, but others were not suited to the growth of 

 white pine. The pure white pine plantation has usually made a satis- 

 factory growth, but its use, at least when nursery stock has to be 

 bought, involves a greater outlay than is necessary. A less expensive 

 tree may be used in mixture with it, and if properly chosen will not 

 diminish the products of the plantation. 



EUROPEAN LARCH. 



The European larch has been frequently used with the white pine, 

 and in some cases satisfactorily. It is more rapid in height growth 

 than the pine, but less rapid in diameter growth. In the very excel- 

 lent plantation of evenly mixed white pine and European larch at 

 Greenfield Hill, Conn., the white pine reached in fifteen years an 

 average height of 28 feet and a diameter of 1.2 inches, while in the 

 .same time the larch grew 32 feet in height and only 3.5 inches in 

 diameter. The larch in New England is liable to attacks from insects. 

 Its intolerance permits the dense, shade-enduring branches of the pine 

 to shade out its side branches. This is advantageous to the larch, but 

 is a service which the latter can not reciprocate. The mixture benefits 

 the larch, but is of no material value to the pine. 



OAKS. 



The red and scarlet oaks grow at about the same rate as white pine, 

 and are well adapted to planting with it. The}^ are sufficiently tol- 

 erant to aid in clearing the pine of its branches, and as they are 

 valuable for some purposes when quite young they can generally be 

 utilized when it becomes desirable to remove them. Oaks are trans- 

 planted with difficulty, owing to the long tap root, and in raising 

 them from seed it is necessary to protect the acorns from rodents. 05 



f Acorns or chestnuts may be planted in pastures by simply making a hole with a cane 

 or stick. The best protection in such a case is to stamp the sod firmly against the 

 acorn with the heel. 



