FIELD PLANTING. 



39 



KIND OF STOCK. 



CONIFERS. 



As already stated, the first planting of conifers at Halsey was with 

 forest-pulled seedlings, which have never been successful except under 

 the most favorable climatic conditions. The next planting was with 

 1 and 2 year old seedlings grown in the local nursery. These were 

 obviously too small; there were not enough roots, and these were 

 too long to be handled conveniently. The trees succeeded only in 

 the most favorable situations, north slopes. However, the use of 

 2-year seedlings was continued through 1906, when the percentage 

 of success on east and south exposures was from 18 to 41, and on 

 northerly exposures from 50 to 68. 



Steady improvement ensued from the first use of transplants, in 

 1907. Tables 9 and 10 show the results of experimental planting in 

 1909, in which stock of various ages was used, and indicate the 

 causes of earlier failures. 



TABLE 9. Survival and growth of yellow pine of various ages, in bottom type. 



TABLE 10. Survival and growth of Scotch pine of various ages, on north slope. 



From these tables it is apparent that the 2-1 transplants are to be 

 preferred as against the younger or untransplanted stock. While 

 the oldest yellow pines give slightly better results, it is thought that 

 this will not be apparent after two more years; moreover, their addi- 

 tional cost precludes their use. The use of 1-year seedlings such as 

 have proved fairly successful, under favorable climatic conditions, in 

 the white-pine planting in the East, is wholly out of the question. 



In the past, three years have been required at Halsey for the devel- 

 opment of a suitable plant, but it is now thought that two years will 



