MASSACHUSETTS TREE PLANTER 15 



about a foot square are prepared and the seed is sown on 

 these spots in contact with the mineral soil total failure may 

 result ; for, while cheaper than planting seedlings, it cannot 

 be depended upon to give such good results as the latter. 



DISCUSSION or THE BEST SPECIES TO PLANT 



In choosing the tree or trees to be planted, in each case, 

 the principal things to be considered are these : 



First. Whether the species is suited to the climate of the 

 region where the planting is to be done. 



An affirmative answer may be given to this query, if the 

 tree already grows in the locality. But, on the other hand, 

 the fact that the tree may not now grow in the region does 

 not necessarily prove that it will not thrive when once in- 

 troduced. In general it may be said that white pine, white 

 ash, and sugar maple, may be planted in all parts of the 

 State, except Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties. 

 In these three counties there may be small areas where the 

 above-named trees will thrive. Red oak has a somewhat 

 more extensive range for planting as it will grow through- 

 out the State, even in most sections of the three counties 

 mentioned. Chestnut while having the same general range 

 as these other species, prefers a somewhat warmer climate. 

 For this reason, in certain localities in the extreme north- 

 eastern and western portions of the State, chestnut should 

 not be planted in cold or exposed situations. 



Second. Whether the soil and moisture conditions are 

 favorable for the growth of the species chosen. 



For instance, even in a region well adapted to a certain 

 species, the soil conditions over small areas may be such as 

 to prevent its development. White pine will grow on soils 

 of all sorts, the chief requirement being that the soil shall 

 be well drained. The tree prefers gravelly sands with a clay 

 subsoil which insures a supply of water not far from the sur- 

 face. Swamps and low marshy laud are not suitable places 

 for planting white pine. 



Chestnut also grows only on well drained soils of at least 

 moderate fertility ; otherwise its demands made upon the soil 

 are not hard to satisfy. Red oak and sugar maple need a 



