SYLVICULTURE. 



be planted in spring if winter storage did not invite a large loss 

 of germinating percentage. For wintering White Oak acorns, it 

 is best to place them (imitating nature) in slight layers under a 

 cover of humus on fairly dry soil. After Charles Heyer: Large 

 baskets are roughly made on dry soil, the bottom and walls lined 

 with moss; within are placed alternate layers of moss or sand 

 and acorns. The basket is roofed with straw. 



After Von Alemann: Ditches 8 feet wide by 10 inches deep are 

 made on dry soil. The acorns must not be too wet when put into 

 the ditch. The cover consists of a layer of vegetable matter. A 

 rough hut is made all over the ditch, out of slabs, bark, twigs, 

 etc. The acorns are stirred up twice a week during winter. 

 Ileyer's method also requires a steep-walled ditch around the place 

 of storage to keep mice out. Possibly it might be wise to keep 

 sacked acorns submerged in running water. 



B. Chestnuts. 



Chestnuts require more fertile alnd hence better-prepared soil 

 than acorns. The nut has still more enemies than the White Oak 

 acorn. Its germinating power is much reduced by dry storage over 

 winter. The devices for storing acorns might be used as well for 

 chestnuts. Possibly storage in the husk is preferable. At Bilt- 

 more planting of Chestnut on abandoned fields is very unsuccessful, 

 owing to enemies and poorness of soil. But abandoned fields ii 

 Pisgah Forest often show fair growth of chestnut — on better soil, 

 especially on moister soil. No experience is at hand relative to nut- 

 plantations on good land newly cut over. Cliestnuts dibbled in at 

 Biltmore to form a lower story beneath Yellow Pine are always 

 eaten by squirrels. 



C. Walnuts. 



Walnuts, both Black and White, can be held over winter like 

 potatoes, without loss. Yet fall planting is better where squirrels 

 do not endanger the nuts. 



Walnut has done well planted in furrows on abandoned fields 

 at Biltmore where soil was good, without cultivation; on poor 

 soil the weeds are choking it to death. The dibbling of walnut 

 into woods just cut over has been badly handicapped in Bilt- 

 more and Pisgah Forest by squirrels. Otherwise dibbling is the 

 best method in the woods. Possibly the attacks of squirrels might 

 be prevented by late-spring dibbling of nuts in sprouting condition. 



D. Birch. 



Birch seeds, are very small, two-winged. European price for 

 Betula lenta, lutea and nigra, .*2..50 per lb.; for Betula papyrifera, 



.51 



