DIFFICULTIES OF REFORESTATION 39 



crop of weeds will somewhat interfere with and hinder the 

 growth of the young trees that may be planted among 

 them, but if fair-sized strong plants with good root devel- 

 opment are selected, the weeds, unless very dense, will not 

 seriously hinder. The cost of reforesting such areas will be 

 as low as that of any, and less than some, but that will be 

 offset by slow growth for several years. After the ground 

 is well covered with the shade of the trees planted thereon, 

 and a proper forest floor secured thereby, the growth will 

 assume a natural vigor. 



Another class is land on which the total destruction of 

 tree-growth has not occurred, but where worthless species 

 predominate to the practical exclusion of all others, and 

 where reforestation with valuable ones cannot occur until 

 the objectionable ones are removed. Such land was un- 

 doubtedly burned over after the lumberman had taken 

 what he cared for, but the fires have not been so frequent or 

 so severe as to destroy all tree-growth, and the result is that 

 Fire Cherry, Trembling Aspen, Sumac, Scrub Oak, and 

 other worthless stuff have sprung up and now cover more or 

 less of the ground. In much of such territory this growth is 

 so dense that no planting of valuable species underneath or 

 among it should be expected to grow. It would be sup- 

 pressed if planted. The seeds of these worthless species 

 have been scattered over the land by the winds and birds, 

 and as all are rapid growers in early life, they outstrip all 

 valuable ones and take and keep possession of the ground. 

 How to get rid of this encumbrance is not easily indicated, 

 and each case should be dealt with according to its dis- 

 tinctive conditions ; but the removal must be effected in 

 some way before planting can be successful ; and the cost 

 may be considerable. Probably the easiest and least expen- 

 sive way, but most destructive to the fertility of the soil, 

 would be to surround the area to be planted with a fire 

 line cut wide enough to enable those in charge of the work 

 to prevent fire escaping, and then burn over the tract as 

 soon in early spring as possible, and at once set out strong 



