THE TRANSPLANT NURSERY 113 



nursery it may be best to let them remain there for three 

 years ; but this must depend upon their size and vigor, and 

 the character of the forest area into which they are to be 

 transferred. They should be large enough to hold their 

 own there. As a rule White Pine can be removed into the 

 forest when four years old, for it is then about ready to 

 begin a vigorous and rapid growth ; yet good results have 

 been achieved by setting three-year-old seedlings in the 

 forest. If not removed to the transplant ground until two 

 years old, two years' sojourn therein should be sufficient. 



Under favorable conditions of forest area to which the 

 plants are to be removed it may be advisable to let the 

 seedlings remain undisturbed in the seed-beds until three 

 years old and then remove them directly to the forest. Of 

 course this would be the most economical method, if suc- 

 cessful, which it sometimes is when there is an ample rain- 

 fall for the first year, and rank vegetable growth does not 

 rob them of light, food, and moisture. That this plan suc- 

 ceeds in many cases is true, but the chances are somewhat 

 against it. 



The transplant nursery is a simple affair. It should be 

 near the seed-beds to save time, labor, and exposure of roots. 

 Fertilization and preparation should be the same as for 

 seed-sowing. Beds may be prepared or the ground left 

 level with frequent paths constructed for convenience or 

 to carry off surplus rainfall. The plants can be set in rows 

 of any convenient length. For conifers the rows may be 

 from six to eight inches apart and the plants from three 

 to four inches apart in the rows. Both of these dimensions 

 may be changed for economy of ground, but care should 

 be taken not to crowd the plants so that they will suffer 

 for either food or moisture. For broadleaf plants the rows 

 should be a few inches farther apart and the distance be- 

 tween them in the rows a little more than for conifers. To 

 facilitate planting a furrow should be made just deep enough 

 to let the roots rest on the bottom so that when they are 

 covered the plants will be a trifle deeper in the ground 



