16 REFORESTATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



if on a side hill, to be washed into the valley by rains. The 

 seed or seedlings which may have been on the ground have 

 been destroyed, and the land might lie for a long period of 

 years before it would reseed itself naturally. Land of this 

 type, therefore, should be set with considerable care, in order 

 to obtain the best results. It is generally advisable to set a 

 four-year-old transplant here rather than seedlings. 



RUN-OUT FIELDS. 



Many of the farms throughout the State have been allowed 

 to decline, and are growing up to brush and undesirable hard- 

 woods. Pasture lands especially are being encroached upon by 

 some of our less valuable trees, such as chokecherry and gray 

 birch, which so overshade the ground that good pasturage runs 

 out, and the lot is abandoned for fields affording better forage. 

 In many cases scattering white pines have crept in, and prob- 

 ably in time would seed in the whole piece; but the advanced 

 growth, while doing good work in reseeding, would be of little 

 value, as, growing so scattered, they would develop large lateral 

 branches instead of giving a clear, straight bole so desirable in 

 the best grade of lumber. If the lot could be set out with 

 seedlings, and the trees allowed to grow in sufficiently dense 

 stands, the lower branches would die off naturally, and smooth, 

 clear lumber would be assured. 



Underplanting in Thinned Stands. 



Where woodland has been extensively thinned to eliminate 

 undesirable species, or for the purpose of marketing the mature 

 timber, underplanting is practicable and advisable. For this 

 purpose a tolerant (shade-enduring) tree is necessary 4 and among 

 the best species may be named the Norway spruce, the hem- 

 lock, the tamarack and the balsam fir. They should be planted 

 in the open spaces as much as possible, or in such a way that 

 they may not grow into the branches of other trees. Other- 

 wise they must be released in a few years' time by cutting the 

 older growth, and damage will result from felling. 



