BUREAU OJ' FORESTRY 191 



in various sections of the l^nitixl States. The third part consists of a 

 demonstration of simple nursorv methods applicable to the growing 

 of forest seedlings in small numbers such as may be wanted on the 

 average farm. 



Reserve Planting. 

 dismal river resera^e. 



In the spring of 1903 planting was begun on the Dismal River 

 Reserve, in west-central Nebraska, by setting out 30,000 western yel- 

 low pine and 70,000 jack pine forest-grown seedlings. The yellow 

 pine had been collected in the Black Hills the previous autumn, the 

 jack pine in Minnesota in the spring of 1903. The yellow pine suf- 

 fered great exposure in shipment, and failed entirely. Of the jack 

 pine about 35 per cent survived. The trees were set in deep incisions 

 made with a spade in the loose sand of the sandhills, without previous 

 preparation of the soil. 



The seedlings which were set in bare spots have grown far better 

 than those set in the protection of grass and shrubs, probably on 

 account of the more abundant moisture. All which survived last 

 year started into vigorous growth early this spring. Many had grown 

 6 inches bj^ Maj- 25. 



Several methods of seeding direct in the sandhills, such as broad- 

 cast sowing and seeding in hills 1jy means of a hand corn planter, have 

 been tried in the hope of tinding rapid and economical methods of 

 forestation, but without apparent result. As more favorable condi- 

 tions than those under which the work has been done can scarcely be 

 expected, the indications are that seeding can not be made successful. 



Better results have been realized from growing seedlings in a nurs- 

 ery. The first seedbed, 1 acre in area, was planted in the fall of 1902 

 and spring of 1903, from seed gathered by the Bureau. The cost of 

 raising 575,000 one-year-old seedlings in this seedbed was $1.20 per 

 thousand. This includes collecting and planting the seed, cultivation 

 and mulching, and one-tenth of the cost of clearing the ground and 

 constructing the shade frames. 



In the nursery the western yellow pine and piiion seedlings attained 

 the first year the height of 3 inche^, and produced finely developed 

 roots 12 to 15 inches long. In the spring of 1901, 300,000 of these 

 seedlings wei-e planted on 335 acre^, the trees being set at 6-foot inter- 

 vals in the bottom of furrows plowed s feet apart. The cost of this 

 planting was $74:6.95. or $2.48 per thousand. Adding to this the cost 

 of growing the seedlings, $1.20 per thousand, the total cost for grow- 

 ing and planting was |3.68 per thousand. A high efiiciency of labor 

 was secured by careful systematization, and the whole operation was 

 carried out with a combined attention to essential requirements, readi- 

 ness in contriving practical methods, and economy, which make its 

 execution an object lesson for similar work. 



On June 6 counts were made on four sample-acre plots to determine 

 the number of living trees. On three plots of western yellow pine 

 91, 90i, and 95 per cent were living and growing. On the fourth 

 acre, which was of pinon, 91 per cent were living and growing. 



In September and October, 19lJ3, an acre of ground was cleared and 

 prepared for an additional seedbed, at a cost of |77. The bed was 

 then covered with woven-slat fencing which provides half shade, at a 



