THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



crops high. This method was used regularly 100 years ago, for 

 European Pine and White Oak, possibly with a view to early^ 

 retiu-ns, possibly to avert ravages of field mice and birds. 



II. Certain species, tender and shade demanding in early youth, 

 like Beech and Fir, cannot well be raised in the open, unless an 

 usher growth 12 to 15 years older (of Yellow Pine, Sassafras, Black 

 Locust, Birch) is previously started on the ground. The usher 

 growth is gradually removed Avhen the seedlings underneath w^ant 

 " skylight." In semi-arid parts such usher growth is perhaps 

 doubly advisable; further in prairies, where Poplars and Willows, 

 Box Elder and Soft Maple might serve as ushers. 



B. Means to protect the seed plantation from animals 



and weeds. 



I. Against seed-eating animals. Planting in late spring offers 

 some protection. Planting in sprouting condition protects heavy 

 seeds from rodents; slight coating of red lead protects conifers 

 from birds. A watchman might be kept on large plantations, to 

 scare the birds away. By coating large seeds with tar, crows 

 might be kept away. 



On wild land the damage by rodents is much greater than it is 

 on land in cultivation or on large burns. Tree seeds are more liked 

 by birds than are farm grains. In the West, rodents must be 

 poisoned prior to any direct seeding. The United States Biological 

 Survey, on the basis of extensive investigations, recommends dif- 

 ferent poisons for the different rodents, as follows: 



(a) Formula for poisoning chip-munks and ground squirrels: 



Strychnia sulphide, one ounce, and saccharine, one tea- 

 spoon, are dissolved in water by boiling. Add one-half cup- 

 of laundry starch, one quart of water, and boil till the mass 

 thickens. Then mix the poison with 20 pounds of barley, 

 securing a thorough coating of the grains of barley. The 

 best season is spring and early simimer. 



(b) Formula for mice: 



Heat IG quarts of wheat slightly; sprinkle thereon one 

 ounce of acid, alcaloid, or sulphide of strychnia and one 

 teaspoonful of saccharine; that done, mix the poisoned 

 wheat with one pint of melted tallow. 



(c) Formula for rabbits: 



Use the twigs of fruit trees in lievi of barley; otherwise 

 proceed as for chip-munks. 

 One bushel of poisoned grain will serve 40 acres thoroughly. 

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