48 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
Because of the arid climate in District 4, forest plant- 
ing is much more difficult than in a humid region. Broad- 
cast seeding is an inexpensive method being thoroughly 
tried in this District, which if successful will greatly facili- 
tate the work. The seed spot method is a still more in- 
tensive one where the seed is covered in prepared spots; 
sometimes cornplanters are used. Both are direct seeding 
methods. 
As there are places where direct seeding has little 
chance, nursery stock is needed. For this purpose three 
large nurseries, with an ultimate capacity of 12,000,000 
plants, are maintained in the District. Last year 1,000,000 
seedlings were field planted and 700 acres sown. 
Fall work so far promises best and it has been found 
that underbrush protection increases the chances of success 
in both sowing and planting. 
It is expected that two or three million plants, depend- 
ing on development in the nurseries, will be field planted 
next fall and also direct seeding done on a large scale. 
Since about 5,000,000 acres in the District require 
artificial reforestation, it is necessary to push this work 
to the limit of funds. Artificial reforestation is therefore 
one of the immediate practical problems. 
Now a word as to natural reproduction. Many de- 
tails are connected with securing this kind of reproduction. 
Special methods of removing the mature stand by successive 
cuttings are practiced to favor natural restocking. The 
composition of the stand and the character of its species 
have a direct bearing since a pure stand or one composed 
of a single species must have different treatment than a 
mixed stand. Also light demanding trees are handled dif- 
ferently from shade endurers and a mixture of both still 
another way. 
As in each of these cases the result will depend on other 
minor and often complex factors of soil and local climate 
the problem is difficult and will require much patient ef- 
fort. It varies with the type of forest, density of stand, 
favorableness of situation, indeed with every single factor 
in a forest community. 
