SYLVICULTURE. 



II. The severe ^^inds of the winter h>osen the foothold of coni- 

 fers planted in fall. 



III. Fall-planted seedlings are more subject to late frost, open- 

 ing their buds some ten days earlier than spring-planted seedlings. 



IV. On weedy soil, fall-planting is handicapped by the pi'esence 

 of a rank growth of weeds which has rotted down at the arrival of 

 spring. 



In the Southern states, even at Biltmore, planting in January 

 and February is very feasible, perhaps advisable in average years. 



Ball plants can be planted at any season of the year. 



In countries of periodical rainfall (California, India and Porto 

 Rico) it is best to plant just before the beginning of the rainy season. 



In swamps, summer planting or early fall planting is a neces- 

 sity. 

 Paragraph XXVI. Cultivation of plantations. 



A. Practice: The European forester never cultivates any planta- 

 tions for the reason that his plantations are made immediately after 

 lumbering, when the rootwork and the stumps on the ground render 

 cultivation difficult. Under the incident conditions of soil (humus: 

 porosity), cultivation is usually not required for the success of a 

 plantation. Irregular plantations cannot be cultivated. 



The forester afforesting sand dunes obviously objects to cultiva- 

 tion. 



The forester afforesting swamps finds cultivation impracticable. 



B. Advisability: Cultivation is advisable: 



Where there is neither humus nor rootwork in the ground; 



Where the soil, like prairie soil, is compact and hard, lacking in 

 aeration, porosity, capilary power, hygroscopicity ; 



Where competing herbaceous weeds threaten to smother small 

 seedlings; 



Where mice or soil breeding insects prevail, which are disturbed, 

 exposed or killed by continuous cultivation. 



C. Frequency. 



The forester may cultivate up to three times per annum, during 

 one, two or more years — sometimes till the leaf canopy overhead 

 secures for the soil a solid layer of humus by dense shading. 



D. Tools. 



A bull-tongue plow is used, on rough ground, for plant rows 

 placed less than three feet apart. 



Cultivators are used, as in agriculture, where the soil is loose, 

 and where the rows are far enough apart and the ground is free 

 from stTunps or roots or holders. 



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