REFORESTATION ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 37 



pine in New Mexico and probably offers the only reasonable chance 

 of success in summer planting. As such plants are unduly expen- 

 sive to grow and plant, the possibilities of successful planting dur- 

 ing the other seasons should be exhausted before resort is had to 

 this method. If summer planting could be carried on successfully 

 in such regions, it would have the decided advantage of favorable 

 weather conditions for a considerable period of time. 



FALL PLANTING. 



The possibilities of fall planting are governed largely by soil and 

 climatic factors. Loose, friable soil, not subject to serious heaving, 

 or even heavier soils which will be covered with a heavy fall of 

 snow all winter, may be safely planted in the fall, provided the soil 

 moisture conditions make this season seem the best for planting. 

 Labor is usually readily available, and in some regions the weather 

 continues fair and is better suited to planting than any other season. 

 Further, the stock is in the ground, the soil becomes well packed 

 around the roots, and the tree is ready to begin growth early in the 

 spring. In consequence, it becomes fairly well established before 

 the advent of the dry, hot season. On the other hand, on heavier 

 soils or where heavy snowfall does not prevail, particularly on south 

 and west slopes, the plants are liable both to heaving and to winter 

 killing, and in some regions the work is very likely to be interrupted 

 or entirely stopped by premature heavy snowfall or freezing of the 

 ground. 



One serious objection has arisen to fall planting of Douglas fir 

 at high altitudes in Utah, where the snowfall is very heavy. The 

 weight of the snow has crushed down the planted stock and resulted 

 in its blackening and rotting as though attacked by a fungus. Where 

 the plantations are under an aspen cover, the aspen leaves fall upon 

 the small plants, become matted over them, and contribute to their 

 destruction. 



WINTER PLANTING. 



Where the winter is accompanied by snowfall or. by cold, freezing 

 weather, planting is obviously impracticable. It is practiced some- 

 what in southern California during December and part of January 

 before freezing occurs, along the coast region of Oregon until Jan- 

 uary 1, and during January and February in southern New Mexico. 



SEASON FOE PLANTING IN DIFFERENT REGIONS. 



Experience gained so far in the Forest Service indicates that early 

 spring planting should be followed in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, 

 Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota, Michigan, Minnesota, Arizona, 



