74 A MANUAL OF FOkKSTRY 



reasons mentioned in discussing pure and mixed forests, to plant 

 small areas with different species. In future planting of white 

 pine it will be advisable to mix it with some other species, as 

 Norway pine, because of the danger from the Blister Rust 

 disease. The white pine is the more valuable, and if it escapes 

 the disease can be favored by a thinning at the proper time. 

 On the other hand, if the plantation becomes diseased the 

 white pine can be removed and a good stand of Norway pine 

 left. 



Commercial planting, whether pure or mixed, should, however, 

 be restricted to a few species of known value and adapted to the 

 site. White and Norway pines, Norway and white spruces, 

 European larch, white ash, and red oak are the standard trees for 

 commercial plantations in New England. On the whole, conifers 

 or softwood trees in contrast to the hardwoods recommend 

 themselves especially for forest planting for the following reasons : 



1. Softwood lumber is in greater demand for general purposes, 

 and, therefore, commands the best prices. 



2. The conifers, such as pine and spruce, are more rapid 

 growing than the hardwoods. 



3. The conifers yield more lumber to the acre in a given length 

 of time than deciduous species, because the trees stand closer 

 together and grow faster. 



4. Much of the land to be planted is of very light soil and is, 

 therefore, better adapted to such trees as the pine than to any 

 other species. 



The question of the proper spacing of trees is one which ha> 

 led to endless discussion on the part of European foresters, and it 

 must be decided in every case according to the owner's particular 

 aims. In many of the early German plantations the trees were 

 spaced not farther than one meter (three feet) apart. The 

 general tendency to-day, even in Europe where nursery stock 

 and labor are still comparatively cheap, is toward more open 

 spacing, and the practice thus far in New England is to plant 

 about live or six feet apart. 



For most purposes a spacing of six by six feet is recommended. 



