THE ASHES : THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND MANAGEMENT. 41 



three other good seedlings of ash or other species, an absolute mini- 

 mum of 160 ash trees per acre spaced about a rod apart each way, 

 and a total minimum of 681 trees per acre of all species. This cor- 

 responds roughly to a spacing of 8 by 8 feet. For the sake of safety 

 it is best to have two or more ash seedlings on every square rod at 

 the outset. The important point in production of high per acre 

 yields is, not the total number of ash seedlings per acre but the num- 

 ber of individual square rods on the acre which have ash seedlings 

 on them. It is best therefore to plant the square rod areas having 

 no promising natural reproduction of ash on them. 



The total area where natural reproduction of ash is possible is very 

 small in comparison with the possible area where it can be artificially 

 established with success, as it very seldom forms a sufficient propor- 

 tion of the mature stand to reproduce itself adequately. The princi- 

 pal species for natural reproduction are the most abundant ones 

 which are white, green, and black ash; the other species, where 

 desired will usually have to be artificially established. 



REFORESTING BY NATURAL MEANS. 



The methods described here apply to all stands, pure or mixed, 

 where the object is to remove the mature stand in such a way as to 

 secure as much natural reproduction of ash as is possible. Methods 

 of cutting (see pp. 42-44) should be used which will bring about the 

 production and dissemination of as much seed as possible over the 

 area, and which will assist in providing suitable seedbed and light 

 conditions for germination and seedling establishment. In many 

 cases additional work may be necessary, such as cutting out worthless 

 material and underbrush to improve conditions for seeding and seed- 

 ling growth, and later on when the ash seedlings are several years old 

 disengagement cuttings to free them from crowding or suppression. 

 AH possible use should be made of seedlings and seedling sprouts 

 already on the ground, as these will usually recover and grow well 

 when the mature stand is opened up. If such growth is scraggly it 

 can be cut back near the ground and allowed to sprout up again, 

 which is especially advisable where it is over 5 feet in height and 

 even hi the case of small poles up to 20 feet in height. The mature 

 trees should be cut with low stumps, so as to encourage sprouting 

 from near the ground (below the root collar), which sprouts will form 

 independent root systems and make the best trees. 



Any attempt to secure natural reproduction of ash assumes the 

 occurrence, in the stand to be cut, of ash trees which can be used for 

 seeding purposes. It will often be possible to remove the mature 

 stand in such a way as to secure so abundant a reproduction that 

 ash will be one of the leading species in the new stand, though in the 



