Forest Rarseries and Norser^ Metljods 



in Earope 



By William F. Fox. 



InfrodaCfor^. 



IN the management of American forests the time has come when it would 

 seem evident to all interested in the work that the future timber supply- 

 in many localities is dependent on reforestation. But natural reforestation is 

 unsatisfactory from the forester's point of view. In results it falls short, by far, 

 of the maximum in quantity and quality of merchantable timber which a given 

 area can be made to yield through proper methods of silvicultural work. 



The highly satisfactory results attained from planted forests in Europe, where 

 this practice has been followed for two centuries or more, justifies clearly the 

 adoption of this system in America. The New Forest in England was "afforested" 

 by order of William the Conqueror, in 1079, and since then reforestation has been 

 practiced from time to time in European countries, until cultivated forests are 

 now the rule rather than the exception. Throughout Germany, France, Belgium 

 and Italy most of the wooded areas show high forests of a density and regularity 

 that indicate plainly their artificial growth. For these and other reasons the 

 planting of forests is engaging the attention of American foresters to-day. It is 

 no new idea. 



A planted forest, like the primitive one, is grown from seed, but in the former 

 the dissemination is under intelligent control. This may be done by broadcast 

 sowing, by the seed-spot method, or by the intermediate process of raising small 

 seedlings in garden or nursery beds; and, large areas of trees are propagated 

 from wind-sown seeds, skilfully directed and managed. 



Broadcast sowing may be a desirable method under certain conditions — where 

 economy is necessary, where a supply of seedling plants cannot be obtained con- 

 veniently, or where a rocky, uneven surface, covered with a scrubby growth, 

 compels its use. But it has the disadvantages of uncertainty, irregularity and 

 the subsequent expense of filling m the blanks where seeds failed to germinate. 

 As the planting of seedlings at regular intervals gives the forester better control 



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