NURSERY PRACTICE ON THE NATIONAL FORESTS. 5 



sary is not great, it should be located as tiear the planting site as cir- 

 cumstances will permit. At a large permanent nursery, the initial 

 as well as the regular yearly work necessitates the employment of a 

 considerable number of laborers, the purchasing and hauling to the 

 nursery of a large amount of material and supplies, and the hauling 

 of the nursery stock to town for shipment. Accessibility to plant- 

 ing sites is not, accordingly, so important — though it is important 

 as location near a central shipping point where labor and supplies 

 are readily available. 



SPECIES OF STOCK TO BE RAISED. 



In fully equipped nurseries, moisture and temperature conditions 

 can be so controlled that danger from drought, intense heat and cold, 

 low humidity, and early or late frosts is partly eliminated; yet if 

 possible, the climatic requirements of the principal species to be 

 produced should be given consideration in choosing the site. If 

 western yellow pine is to be the principal species, preference should 

 be given to sites well within the low altitudes. If, on the other 

 hand, Engelmann spruce or lodgepole pine will make up the greatest 

 proportion of the nursery stock, preference should be given to the 

 sites at higher altitudes. The natural common occurrence of a spe- 

 cies in a certain region is an unfailing indication that both soil and 

 climate are well adapted to its growth. Production will usually be 

 attended by fewer difficulties and losses at nurseries located within 

 such a region than elsewhere, although there have been some in- 

 stances where this has not seemed entirely true. Furthermore, less 

 watering and shading may be necessary and protection against frost- 

 and winter killing uncalled for, so that it will be possible to pro- 

 duce a high grade of stock at less cost. 



NATURE OF THE SURROUNDINGS. 



The surroundings have a minor effect upon nursery operations 

 through their influence upon the weed problem, protection, shading. 

 and watering. On old clearings, old burned-over areas, or aban- 

 doned fields, the conditions are particularly suited to the growth of 

 weeds. At nurseries situated in such places it will usually be neces- 

 sary to fight weeds continually. Such locations should be avoided 

 if others fully as good in the more important considerations can be 

 selected. There is the objection to having trees in the immediate 

 vicinity of a nursery that they cause snowdrifts and retard melting 

 of the snow in spring. It is possible also that they impede the cii 

 dilation of air and thus subject the nursery stock to greater 

 danger. Furthermore, excessive side shade from timber somen n 



