REFORESTATION ON MINNESOTA NATIONAL FOREST 67 



sirable points except soil, which is for the most part sand and 

 must be subjected to a building up process. It represents the 

 one big factor with which the nurseryman has to contend. 

 It is being overcome by the application of large quantities 

 of well rotted manure that is stratified in manure receptacles. 

 In addition, every square foot of available surface is sown to 

 a cover crop, such as cow peas and rye. Commercial fer- 

 tilizer applied directly to the beds during the growing season 

 proved to be of great value in 1914. Because of the absence 

 of a subsoil or even substrata, the plant food leaches away 

 very quickly, but there can be no doubt that commercial fer- 

 tilizer or immediately available plant food applied at the 

 proper time and in the proper manner will stimulate plant 

 growth. 



The nursery is situated between two rather large bodies 

 of water which, during times of low temperatures, prevent 

 injuries from frost. Its close proximity to the town of Cass 

 Lake eliminates the labor question and no mess or bunk 

 house is required. The stock may be distributed either by rail 

 or water. The freight or express depot is only one-half mile 

 from the nursery, while a three-quarter mile haul will place 

 the young trees at the dock. The latter combined with a gov- 

 ernment owned motor boat and barge affords a low distri- 

 bution cost. 



A pressure system supplies the water which is pumped into 

 a tank installed on the top of a tower 30 feet high. The nur- 

 sery proper, upon the installation of the water system, was 

 divided into 100 foot squares and at the center of each a hy- 

 drant was erected. 



Few nurseries have advantages such as this one. In fact, 

 the writer does not believe there is another nursery in the 

 United States where the supply and demand is entirely taken 

 care of by the local forest. The seed is obtained from the Minne- 

 sota National Forest area. Everything necessary in nursery op- 

 erations is obtained from the Forest and all of the stock raised 

 is planted back on it, so it may be truthfully said that the 

 Cass Lake Nursery exists through and for the Minnesota 

 National Forest. Even the moss such an essential factor 



