REPORT ON FORESTS. 283 
to re-establish a pine forest on entirely denuded land are easily 
controverted by the thousands of young short-leaf-pines taking 
possession readily, and in dense stands of old pasture and 
abandoned hills, and entirely without the nursing influence of 
broad-leafed kinds. Even under the damaging influence of 
tramping stock and invading fire, this young growth has 
gradually advanced, and solid phalanxes of saplings and middle- 
sized polewood now form a large part of the second-growth 
‘woodlands attached to farms, together with oaks and other hard- 
woods. ‘There appears, therefore, to be no more useful and valu- 
able concomitant in the future forestry of East Tennessee than 
‘this willingly self-propagated short-leaf-pine.” 
Now and then a beautiful seedling forest, naturally regenerated 
from adjoining woods, may be seen in New Jersey, and, as in the 
eastern peninsula of Virginia, if this species is favored, in the 
-course of time it will be the rule and not the exception. It is 
not difficult, however, to secure a good stand by sowing the seed, 
provided the seed is fresh and fertile. The easiest and cheapest 
way is to plant the seed mixed with dirt in rows, or in narrow 
strips, across the field, four or five feet apart.* The best way to 
prepare this seed-bed, in case the land is not too stumpy, is to 
run a narrow, one-horse scratch-harrow over it, and then, after 
the seed is sown, run the harrow over the same strip again, in 
-order to cover the seed. If one man strikes out the strips with 
the harrow, while another sows the seed, a large area can be 
-covered in a short time. Where a horse and harrow cannot be 
used, it is best to work in the seed with a rake. Throughout 
the south swine prepare this seed-bed. After the seed has been 
sown, if the soil is very dry and sandy and liable to shift, the 
strips must be covered with pine-chats and brush, on which a 
little sand may be thrown to hold them down. As soon as the 
young pines form a closed canopy thinning should begin, and 
continue throughout the whole period of their life, so that the 
trees may have sufficient space and light and yet free themselyes 
of limbs. ‘The removal of litter and the time of cutting depend 
entirely upon circumstances. If the owner needs the litter it is 
proper to remove it; if he wants poles or small pilings there is 
nothing to hinder him from cutting his forest in the pole-stage. 
* A good stand of the short-leaf-pine has been secured by spreading the pine twigs with ripe cones 
attached over the land 
