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Care. — The seed trees which determined the composition of the young 

 stand are becoming useless through decay and other defects. Often there 

 are grape vines, old fire-scarred snags and other material with which the 

 lot could well dispense. These should be removed. At the same time a 

 thinning could profitably be made if the stand is too thick. The aims and 

 results of thinning have already been discussed. 



PLANTING. 



Under this subject the main points of planting and growing woodlots 

 are mentioned for the benefit of those who wish to have more timber than 

 can grow on the land already forested. 



Location. — In general not less than one-eighth of a farm's total area 

 should be iu woodland. Some have more than this amount, but many 

 others have practically not a single acre in woods. As has been said be- 

 fore, the woodlots existing at present have little, if any, relation to farm 

 buildings. A little corner cut off by a stream or railroad, or land other- 

 wise unfit for agriculture because of steepness, rocks, etc., furnish a place 

 to plant a woodlot. It would be well if these so-called waste portions 

 were so situated that timber growing on them could form a windbreak. 

 This idea of protection should always come into consideration when pre- 

 paring to plant. 



Species. — Whatever the opinions of individual nurserymen may be 

 regarding the species to plant, there will never be found trees better suited 

 to any region than those which are natural to its soil. For central In- 

 diana we recognize white oak, red oak and burr oak, ash, walnut, hickory, 

 sugar maple, black cherry and elm as types for lumber ; and osage orange, 

 black locust, coffee tree, catalpa, etc., as types best suited for the produc- 

 tion of posts, poles and ties. Careful examination of the soil should also 

 be made, and only such species which will develop best under the existing 

 conditions should be planted. These two points were brought out fully 

 under the topic "Forest Cover" in "The Model Woodlot." 



Preparation of the Ground. — The ground should be plowed, harrowed 

 and worked into as good condition as for any agricultural crop in order 

 to secure the best results. However, it is not necessary to prepare it so 

 carefully. Planting has frequently been done with good results on burned 

 over woodland according to the third method described below under 

 "Planting." But trees growiug on well prepared ground have as much 



