SYLVICULTURE. 



wishes to puddle plants before heeling, and desires to plant the 

 conifer? invariably after the broad-leaved kinds. 



H. Planting: The planter must patiently wait for proper 

 weather. Thorough protection of the roots during every moment 

 of the act of planting is essential. Each individual must be planted 

 by itself — no dozen methods! The plants should be set closely 

 within the rows; the soil must be packed tightly round the roots. 

 Reversed sods or stones may be used to ballast the roots and to 

 prevent the wind from shaking them loose. 



I. Cultivation: Cultivation is necessary up to the time when 

 the trees cover the ground fully, littering it with humus. Where 

 barefrost is dreaded, cultivation should end in late summer. 



Paragraph XXVIII. Methods of obtaining plants for- planting. 



A. Frequently, seedlings are obtained from the woods nearby, 

 a method which seems to recommend itself as cheap and natural. 

 It is a fact, however, that the roots and the buds of wild seed- 

 lings are badly adapted for the purpose of planting. The former 

 are far-spreading; the buds are weak and few. In addition it is 

 risky to take plants from the shelter of mother trees suddenly 

 onto open ground. The use of wild seedlings over two years 

 old is particularly unsuccessful. The failure of the timber culture 

 act to prove efficient is largely due to the use of wild plants in 

 prairie plantations. 



At Biltmore, seedlings of Yellow Poplar, Yellow Pine, Ash and 

 Maple are often picked up with a spade and taken to the nurseries 

 with good results. Such seedlings are taken at a very young 

 age, without loss of dirt, to nurseries placed under lath screens. 

 They are never removed directly to open plantations, with the 

 exception of ballplants of Yellow Pine. 



B. Purchase of plants from commercial nurseries: 



During the last 15 years, a number of financially strong com- 

 mercial nurseries have arisen abroad which, buying seed cheaply, 

 located on suitable ground at good shipping points, enjoying many 

 years' close acquaintance with the needs of Sylviculture, have sup- 

 plied the various German administrations with cheap plants of a 

 superior grade. The Biltmore Estate has often obtained plants 

 raised by Heins Sons, Halstenbeek, near Hamburg, notably White 

 Pines, which have been very successful in spite of a six weeks voyage. 

 On the other hand, American nurseries usually prepare plants only 

 for ornamental purposes and not with a view of fostering the 

 development of the tree bole. 



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