STARTING A WHITE PINE PLANTATION. 31 



tree is almost valueless for timber. Probably no better tree could be 

 used as a nurse for red pine than white pine, but when white pine is 

 desired such a mixture is not advisable. 



The range of red pine for economic planting extends throughout the 

 Northern States as far west as eastern North and South Dakota. 



NORWAY SPRUCE. 



In many cases there is no tree better suited to growth with white 

 pine than Norway spruce. This tree is valuable because of its early 

 maturity and the quality of its wood. In East Greenwich, R. I., 

 where both were planted on poor, sandy land, the white pine grew 28 

 feet in twenty-seven years and the Norway spruce 32 feet. The con- 

 ical shape of the spruce prevents its slightly more rapid height j*rowth 

 from injuring the white pine. Both spruce and pine are shade en- 

 during, so that the mixture is good for both. Norway spruce may be 

 planted throughout the region of the white pine. 



SUGAR, MAPLE. 



For economic forest planting there is probably no other tree which 

 can be used in mixture with white pine to greater advantage than 

 sugar maple. Its shade-enduring quality, its relative growth, and the 

 readiness with which it may be obtained are all in its favor. The 

 main disadvantage in planting pure white pine forests is the large 

 initial outlay. Sugar maple seedlings may be obtained for one-half 

 what Avhite pine costs, and the mixture makes it necessary to plant 

 only just enough pines to form the future stand. 



For the first twelve A^ears the annual height growth of the two 

 species is about equal. Then the maple begins to spread out, while 

 the pine continues to grow rapidly until, by the time it is 20 years old, 

 it has secured a substantial lead. Meanwhile the thick and spreading 

 crown of the maple has killed out the lower branches of the pine. It 

 has now fulfilled its part, and may be removed if use can be made of it. 

 If not, it will gradually be killed by the rapidly advancing growth of 

 the pine, which will by this time form a complete forest cover. 



STARTING A WHITE-PINE PLANTATION. 

 SEED AND SEED YEARS. 



The white pine is reproduced from seed. The cones, which average 

 about 6 indies in length, bear from 50 to 75 seeds each. There are 

 about 28,800 seeds to the pound, or 1,800 to the ounce. The percent- 

 age of germination in fresh seed is 70 to 90. If the seed is sown care- 

 fully in drills on suitable soil and cared for in a proper manner subse- 

 quently, 50 per cent may be expected to produce seedlings which will 

 live to the transplanting stage. If, however, seed be sown broadcast on 

 soil not properly cared for, a frequent result is not more than 2,000 to 



