THE RED SPRUCE. 65 



quite probable that a second cut could not again be secured short of 

 100 years, and it would also be increasingly difficult, if not impos- 

 sible, to secure satisfactory natural restocking. 



By comparison the same land managed under a system of clean 

 cutting and planting could reasonably be expected in 60 years to 

 yield at least 50 cords from trees 8 inches and over in diameter at 

 breast height and an additional 10 cords from trees between 6 and 8 

 inches, or a total of 60 cords. A further advantage, though of minor 

 importance, is that with the planted stand the material produced 

 would be uniformly of a size to be easily handled by hand in the bolt. 

 If handled in the log, the cost of logging would be somewhat more 

 than the cost of handling larger timber. 



DIRECT SEEDING. 



Under certain circumstances it may be found advantageous to sow 

 the seed broadcast in the places where the future forest is to be, 

 simulating methods of nature. This will give satisfactory results 

 where an abundance of seed can be secured cheaply and where an 

 extensive area too stony or otherwise encumbered to admit of planting 

 economically is to be reforested, but only as the result is viewed from 

 the standpoint of the whole. Acre for acre the result will be less 

 satisfactory than planting, particularly in commercial reforestation, 

 for there will be many bare places, which will increase the cost in 

 proportion to the amount of land that lies unproductive throughout 

 the life of the resulting crop. If the bare spots are planted later, that 

 will increase the cost. Other methods of a more or less extensive 

 character are: Broadcasting the seed on previously plowed strips; 

 planting'with a corn planter; or hand planting in prepared seed spots. 

 These methods are not ordinarily well adapted to red spruce; for as 

 the intensiveness of the method increases, the cost very nearly 

 approaches that of planting seedlings, which would be much more 

 likely to succeed. 



PLANTING. 



On account of the tenderness of spruce, its exacting demands on 

 the quality of the seedbed, and its slow growth in early youth, much 

 more satisfactory results will be obtained in reforestation by plant- 

 ing than by sowing. The choice of stock is of great importance. If 

 tho ground cover is dense, the soil wet or dry or subject to freezing, 

 or if direct insolation is strong, especially thrifty plants must be used, 

 such as three of four year old nursery transplants. For planting on 

 an area from which the surface cover has been recently removed and 

 the mineral soil exposed two-year-old nursery seedlings will suffice, 

 provided the situation is sheltered and the too prolific development 

 of brush and weeds can be prevented. A slight nurse cover for 

 84949°— Bull. 544—17 5 



