CHAPTER II 

 THE SEED FOREST 

 Paragraph IX. Genesis of the seed forest. 



A second growth can be started or born either naturally (from 

 stump shoots, root suckers and self-sown seed) or artificially (by . 

 planting seeds, seedlings or cuttings). Forests born from stump 

 sprouts, root suckers and cuttings are called " coppice forests " or 

 " sprout forests." Forests born from seeds or seedlings are termed 

 " high forests " or " seed forests." 



A. Planting in Europe. 



Prior to the year 1830, the European foresters did not know, 

 practically speaking, of forest nurseries. The forests were regener- 

 ated by Natural Seed Regeneration (N". S. R., pronounce "enesar"), 

 where seed forests were desired, or else were raised by planting 

 the tree seeds directly on the site where the second growth was 

 intended to stand. 



Since the year 1830, seedlings, raised in forest nurseries, were 

 planted on an increasing scale. Now-a-days, in central Europe, the 

 forester bent on artificial regeneration of his stand of timber prefers 

 planted seedlings to seeds directly planted, especially in the case 

 of Yellow and White Pine, Spruce, Ash, Maple and Larch. Beech 

 and Fir are invariably regenerated abroad from self-sown seed; 

 also Oak in France, while in Germany acorns are planted usually. 



B. Advisability of planting in America. 



Excepting the case of the prairies and, possibly, the case of 

 fields abandoned by farmers in the Eastern States, the idea of arti- 

 ficial propagation of forest crops (by planting) seems preposterous 

 in America. As long as an acre of virgin forest can be bought for 

 a lesser sum of money than is required, in the same locality, for the 

 successful re-forestation of an acre of ground, the chances for a 

 remunerative outcome of planting seem slim. However, the fol- 

 lowing points should not be lost sight of: 



I. The stumpage prices apt to prevail in America in the year 

 1960 are likely to equal those now prevailing abroad. Hence the 

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