REFORESTATION ON" THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 39 



It has the disadvantage that the seed often fail to germinate until the 

 following year, or until about the beginning of the dry season, when 

 the seedlings have little chance of surviving. 



SUMMER SOWING. 



Summer sowing is very generally inadvisable, except possibly in 

 those regions, such as Arizona and New Mexico, which are character- 

 ized by a rainy period beginning in July. Even in these regions sum- 

 mer-sown seed have only a short growing period after germination 

 and are very likely to be harmed by early frost. 



SEASON FOE SOWING IN DIFFERENT REGIONS. 



While sowmg has not proved satisfactory in general at any par- 

 ticular season, experience gained so fur in Forest Service operations 

 indicates that the best results may be expected from early spring sow- 

 ing in Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado east of the Continental 

 Divide, the Black Hills of South Dakota, and possibly the Lake 

 States. Similarly, the indications point to fall as the best period in 

 Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana west of the Continental Divide, 

 Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, Washington, and 

 Oregon. 



FIELD ORGANIZATION. 



The sowing of a certain area or the planting of an assignment of 

 trees involves the problem of doing a definite amount of work on se- 

 lected sites while certain conditions prevail. In the fall, planting 

 must be done after the soil has become sufficiently moist and before 

 winter sets in ; in spring, shortly after the snow goes off and before 

 the summer begins. It is important, therefore, to learn beforehand 

 just what field organization will be necessary to complete the work 

 in the time that is available. 



Crew. 



The number of men desirable will depend largely upon the scope of 

 the operations, the length of the season, the method followed (whether 

 it be a slow or rapid one) , the topography and cover of the site, and 

 the nature of the supervision possible. Because of the limited length 

 of the planting season, the possible interruptions through short spells 

 of bad weather, and the deterioration of the planting stock when 

 heeled in at the planting site for any considerable period, the crew 

 should be as large as is consistent with efficiency and proper supervi- 

 sion. Crews generally consist of from 6 to 24 men each, although 

 much larger ones may be employed. In very rough, mountainous 

 country or on areas covered with much brush or down timber, where 



