440 PRACTICAL ARBORICULTURE 



MANAGEMENT OF FOREST PLANTATIONS. 



In response to numerous inquiries we give the following brief directions : 



The land should be plowed deeply, harrowed as for a farm crop, am! 

 marked out both ways in rows seven feet apart. One way the furrows may be 

 merely marks, but the other way they should be as deep as the plow can run. 



Trees are set at the intersections, thus being 7x7 feet, or 888 to the acre. 



Not later than the seventh to tenth year 666 of these trees must be re- 

 moved, and may be used for fence posts, leaving 222 trees for permanent 

 forest. 



On fairly good land, with reasonable care and proper treatment, the per- 

 manent trees will make from five to seven sawed ties each in twenty years. 



The trees should be cultivated two or three times during the first, second 

 and third years, using shallow-running harrow or cultivator. 



After a plantation has been made, the trees grown two years, and estab- 

 lished a strong system of roots, unless they have been very carefully managed 

 many of the trees will be crooked, some will be low-branched, others have 

 double trunks, etc. It makes little difference what the shape may be at this 

 juncture, all crooked and deformed trees should be cut off at the ground and 

 allowed to form a new head, with one straight upright stem. I consider the 

 first and most important and pressing requirement to be the cutting back of 

 all the trees which are too crooked to make good ties and telegraph poles. 



This should be done as soon as possible, before the leaves start too vigor- 

 ously. 



Catalpa spcciosa is natural!) a straight and upright growing tree, and the 

 object should be to assist nature in producing a tall, straight stem. This can 

 not be accomplished when two or more branches divide the vigor of the tree. 



In no case is a double head permissible, much less three branches on the 

 trunk, except near the top of a high tree. 



If you aim to produce telegraph poles, you will have timber suited for any 

 purpose. 



Where skillful pruning will preserve the present trunk, it may be best to 

 cut off branches. Otherwise cut the tree down near the ground. 



A sharp ax may be used if the workmen are skilful, by a swinging upward 

 blow, never by a downward stroke, which will split the trunk. 



Smaller trees may be cut with clippers, or hedge shears. 



During the summer a watchful care should be observed, to prevent the 

 growth of branches along the trunk. 



