60 FORESTKY EXPERIMENTS 



(3) Cost of Transplanting. In transplanting, placing 

 the trees in pails containing some water in the bottom, or 

 better a thin solution of water and soil (puddled), will pre- 

 vent the roots from drying out. In setting, two men can 

 work to better advantage, one using a spade or heavy dibble, 

 which is thrust into the soil making a hole, while the other 

 follows with the seedling tree, placing it in the opening and 

 pressing the earth firmly about the roots. 



It was found that two men under favorable conditions 

 could set on an average about 400 seedlings per hour. Where 

 it w^as easy digging and the soil friable, this number could 

 be increased, but when setting in a tough sod not so many 

 could be handled. The number of acres set and expense of 

 the work will depend upon the distance they are set apart. 

 When set 8 X 8 feet, it required 680 per acre and at a cost 

 of setting approximately 50 cents per acre. Set 5x5 feet 

 ordinarily recommended, it takes 1,742, or at the rate of 

 about $1.50 per acre. 



(4) Cost of Digging and Transplanting. Taken to- 

 gether, therefore, the total expense of digging and trans- 

 planting wild seedlings amounted to only approximately 

 $1.50 a thousand. This low figure places the problem of 

 restocking lands adapted to the growth of the white pine 

 beyond question as an economic one. 



When it is more generally known, the writer feels con- 

 fident that this simple and practical solution will be very 

 generally practised. 



Tiyne of Year to Do the Work^ 



The best time for transplanting the young pine seedlings 

 is very early in the spring. As soon as the frost is out of 

 the ground begin the work. At this time of the year the 

 atmosphere is laden with moisture, the soil does not dry out 

 and everything is favorable for the plant. The earlier the 

 work is done, the more time the young trees have to become 

 well established before the tryii.g time of sunnner sets in. 

 The month of April has been found the best time in this 



