i902. 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



291 



to act as seed trees, but usually it is 

 better to remove them and cover the 

 area with an even stand of young pines. 

 Two-year-old seedlings may be planted 

 on such lands, while on sprout or bushy 

 areas transplants should be used. The 

 use of seedlings reduces the cost of 

 plants more than 50 per cent. In loca- 

 tions of this nature planting may usu- 

 ally be done directly in the sod by merely 

 lifting a small portion of it, placing the 

 roots beneath, and then pressing it again 

 into place. Where the sod is very 

 dense a small square (4 by 6 inches) 

 should be removed for each plant and 

 the little tree planted in the cavity thus 

 formed. 



PLANTING ON CUT-OVER LANDS. 



In almost ever}^ eastern state there 

 are large areas of forest land which have 

 been cut over and since have been an- 

 nually swept by fires, gradually driving 

 out the valuable species and leaving 

 scrubby oaks, cherry, maple, poplar, 

 and shrubs to reproduce either from 

 sprouts or seeds. Such land presents 

 the most difficult of tree planting prob- 

 lems, and usuall}' planting is impracti- 

 cable upon them. There is necessit}^ 

 for added care and expense to protect 

 the 3^oung seedlings both from fire and 

 from being smothered by the rapid- 

 growing natural shrubbery. The ex- 

 pense of planting is greatl}' increased, 

 for all dense sprout growth must be re- 

 moved. Larger seedlings or transplants 

 must be used in order to advance the 

 growth as much as possible. The cut- 

 over lands may be divided for the guid- 

 ance of the tree planter into recentlj' 

 cut-over areas which have not been vis- 

 ted by fire, cut-over areas where fire 

 has bared the ground, areas where 

 sprout growth is scarce, and areas where 

 sprout growth is of poor quality for 

 commercial purposes. 



The first of these conditions can sel- 

 dom be used to advantage by the tree 

 planter, for '-isuall}' valuable species will 



reproduce naturall}'. Recentl}^ burned 

 areas frequently present the most satis- 

 factory conditions, and where the plant- 

 ing of three-year-old once-transplanted 

 White Pines is done the spring follow- 

 ing the fire, success may be expected. 

 Cut-over burned areas, and areas where 

 sprout growth is scarce or of poor qual- 

 ity, sometimes present conditions which 

 can be used b}' the practical tree planter, 

 but usually planting under such circum- 

 stances cannot be profitable in the pres- 

 ent stage of American forestry. 



THE HOME WOODLOT. 



The most practical forest planting for 

 the general public is the home woodlot. 

 On almost every farm there are at least 

 a few acres which are valueless for 

 other purposes, and which might be 

 used to produce fuel, fence-posts, and 

 timber for the construction of farm 

 buildings. The farmer need not go to 

 much expense, for he can usually col- 

 lect his own seed or seedlings for plant- 

 ing. If his land is unsuitable for direct 

 seed planting he ma}' either gather his 

 seedlings in the forest or grow them in 

 his own nursery. The value of such a 

 woodlot for the farm is not restricted to 

 the actual amount of posts, fuel, or tim- 

 ber which it may produce ; but it gives 

 in addition beauty to the farm grounds 

 and protection from winds. Frequently 

 in New England the cause of unsatis- 

 factory 3'ields from orchards and various 

 other perennial crops is the lack of snow 

 protection about the roots during win- 

 ter. A combined woodlot and wind- 

 break from one to several rods in width, 

 extending about the orchard or garden, 

 will gather the snow evenly over the 

 enclosure. Protection is thus afforded 

 where otherwise the wind would sweep 

 the land bare, piling the snow in heaps 

 about the fences, roads, and build- 

 ings. Farmers living near towns can 

 usually find a ready and profitable mar- 

 ket for excess posts and fuel from the 

 woodlot. 



