294 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



BEFORE PLANTING. 



This land is not fitted for agriculture. It is an evidence that the real cost of neglected waste areas 

 on a farm is a general lowering of the whole farm value. 



sometimes in nature, especially in 

 natural seeding of white cedar or white 

 pine. A close, dense stand is essential 

 at the start in order to produce a proper 

 development in the future growth, but 

 it is wise to consider at the same time 

 the initial cost of your planting, as this 

 will affect the final profits. 



The close planting produces crowded 

 and shaded conditions which kill off 

 the side branches when the trees are 

 small, reduce the number and size of 

 the knots, and finally make a higher 

 grade of lumber. 



Such valuable results are easily seen 

 when we compare the difference between 

 trees which have grown naturally in a 

 dense forest and those which have 

 grown in the open. On the other hand, 

 if too many trees are planted per acre, 

 the cost is rapidly increased and tends 

 to discourage the land owner from mak- 

 ing the initial investment. Then too, 

 the denser the stand, the sooner will 

 thinning be necessary in order to get 

 the best growth. Such early thinning 

 ordinarily would not bring a profit in 

 this country. In foreign countries where 

 the fagot is in demand, closer planting 

 and such early thinnings can be carried 



on with some degree of profit. It is also 

 possible that, if the right species could 

 be grown on the soil in question, the 

 early thinnings could be made with the 

 idea of a supply of Christmas trees 

 which would bring a profit in this 

 country. The advisability of growing 

 such a crop, however, would be governed 

 largely by the proximity to available 

 markets as well as the adaptability of 

 balsam, Norway spruce or other Christ- 

 mas trees to the soil wiiere the planting 

 is to be done. 



In consideration of these factors, it 

 is found that a spacing of six by six 

 feet, requiring 1,200 trees per acre, is 

 best 'adapted for most plantations. 



The fast growing -and light demanding 

 trees, such as Carolina poplar and black 

 locust, may be set at a wider spacing, 

 for example, eight feet apart each way, 

 requiring 680 trees per acre. In some 

 cases a mixed plantation might also be 

 desired where fast growing species 

 would be alternated with slower grow- 

 ing and shade enduring species, with the 

 idea that the faster growing tree would 

 be taken out in the early thinnings. In 

 such a case the trees might be planted 



