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Canadian Forestry Journal, November, rgi6 



Stimulating Growth of Ornamental Trees 



It should be the aim of every wood- 

 lot owner to keep the crowns or tops 

 of the trees over the whole area touch- 

 ing- each other in such a way that the 

 ground below the trees is kept shaded. 

 This prevents the growth of grass and 

 weeds, and permits seedling trees to 

 establish themselves. Once the 



ground becomes well covered with 

 small seedlings, opening up the crown 

 by the removal of a few of the old 

 trees and letting in the light will be 

 beneficial and encourage rapid growth. 

 Old, over-mature, spreading trees 

 which prevent the proper development 

 of younger trees coming up beneath 

 them should be removed. As a rule, 

 however, it is not advisable to make an 

 opening in the tops or crown cover 

 which will not be filled in again in 

 three or four years either by the spread- 

 ing of the surrounding trees or the de- 

 velopment of younger ones that are 

 coming in below. 



1 lb. of nitrate of soda, 



5 lbs. of cottonseed meal, 



2 lbs. of acid phosphate, 



2 lbs. of muriate of potash, 

 the whole to be mixed before spreading. 

 One pound will suffice for one hundred 

 square feet. 



One of the best methods of stimulat- 

 ing the growth of shade and ornamen- 

 tal trees is to improve the physical con- 

 dition of the soil beneath them. For 

 a radius of two or three feet about the 

 stem the soil should be kept cultivated. 

 The air is thus permitted to reach the 

 roots, and at the same time rapid evap- 

 oration of moisture is prevented. 



Where the decline of trees is caused 

 by a deficiency of nutritive elements in 

 the soil the condition can be improved 

 by mulching with manure in the fall. 

 This should be allowed to remain all 

 winter, and in the spring should be 

 turned under. It will not only enrich 

 the soil but improve its physical condi- 

 tion. An occasional dressing with 

 hardwood ashes is to be recommended, 

 and will often be found to be all that is 

 required in the way of fertilizer. Ten 

 pounds to the hundred square feet 

 should be sufficient. 



There are several chemical fertilizers 

 which can be used instead of manure 

 for improving the soil. One of the 

 best is the following mixture, which 

 should be applied to the soil early in 

 the spring: 



Boy Scout Forestry Test. 



To meet Canadian conditions, the 

 Dominion Council of the Boy Scouts' 

 Association has authorized a Forestry 

 badge, in lieu of the Woodman badge. 

 The conditions under which this badge 

 may be secured by the boys are very 

 comprehensive, and will do much to in- 

 terest Canadian boys in the Canadian 

 forests and the wild life found therein, 

 are: 



The scout must — 



1. Identify the principal tree species 

 in own locality, and explain their prin- 

 cipal distinguishing characteristics. 



2. Identify five kinds of shrubs. 



3. Describe the principal uses of ten 

 species of Canadian woods. Visit a 

 wood-using factory, if practicable. 



4. Explain the aim of forestry, and 

 compare with agriculture and unregu- 

 lated lumbering. 



5. Tell what are the effects of fires 

 on soil, young forest growth and ma- 

 ture timber; principal causes of forest 

 fires and how best to overcome them ; 

 three general classes of forest fires, 

 and how to fight each. 



6. Describe how the forest lands are 

 protected and administered in own pro- 

 vince. 



7. Describe the general features of a 

 lumbering or pulpwood operation ; how 

 the cutting is done in the woods ; meth- 

 od of transportation to the mill, and of 

 manufacture there. Visit some por- 

 tion of woods operation, or sawmill, or 

 pulp or paper mill, if practicable. 



8. (Optional.) Discuss one or more 

 of the enemies of trees, such as insects 

 (leaf-eaters, bark-borers, wood-bor- 

 ers), or decay (fungus diseases), and 

 tell something of how damage from 

 these sources may be lessened or over- 

 come. 



