FORESTRY LESSONS ON HOME WOODLANDS 25 



Lesson XL FOREST REPRODUCTION 



Problem. — To learn how trees reproduce themselves. 



Sources of information. — Farmers' Bulletins 134, 173, 423, 788, 

 1071, 1123, 1177, 1256, and 1312; Forestry Bulletins 45, 121, and 

 244; Forestry Circulars 45, 81, 99, and 208; Department Bulletin 153. 



Illustrative material. — Make a collection of seed specimens of the 

 classes indicated under ' ' Topics for study. ' ' Either mount these seeds 

 on cardboard or put them in wide-mouth bottles. Clip pictures of 

 young forest growth. 



Topics for study. — Seeds: The various devices of nature for dis- 

 persing the seed widely. Tree fruits with (a) wings, plumes, etc.; 



(b) pulpy fruit with bony seeds sought by birds; (c) rich nut kernels 

 liked by rodents and birds, and often buried or otherwise stored 

 away; (d) light seeds which float or roll along the bottom of streams. 

 Species of trees whose seeds are (a) carried by wind, (b) water, or by 



(c) birds and animals. (Fig. 16.) 



Sprouts: Different species of trees which reproduce themselves by 

 means of sprouts from stumps. From what part or parts of the 

 stump do sprouts arise? Species which sprout from surface or lat- 

 eral roots. Influence of the season of the year when cutting is done 

 upon the vigor and growth of sprouts. Influence of age of parent 

 tree upon success of sprouting. 



Natural forest reproduction: Young growth. (Fig. 17.) Condi- 

 tions under which young growth starts in woodlands. A forest 

 without young growth is like a community without children — it will 

 die out. Need for large numbers of young trees for perpetuation of 

 the forest. Competition and shading out of the weaker seedlings 

 and saplings. 



How the forest travels: (a) By wind; (b) by animals, birds, and 

 water. (Fig. 16.) 



Age groups of young growth: (a) Seedling, (b) small sapling, 

 (c) large sapling, (a) small pole. 



Starting a young forest oy direct seeding or transplanting nur- 

 sery-grown seedlings. Sowing the seed direct where the trees are 

 wanted. Kinds of trees started this way: Usually the species dim- 

 cult to transplant on account of large, deep taproots, such as hick- 

 ories, walnuts, some of the oaks, longleaf and some other pines. 

 Collecting the seed. Storing the seed over winter. Sections of the 

 country (north) where seed sowing is best done in the spring and 

 (south) where it may be done in the fail or early winter. Preparation 

 of the soil and method of planting seed of different kinds. Care of 

 growing seedlings. 



Planting seedlings grown in nursery beds. Preparation of nur- 

 sery beds and sowing of seeds. Kinds of trees commonly raised in 

 nursery beds. Age of seedlings fit for planting. Need for trans- 

 planting seedlings in nursery prior to planting out in the woods or 

 fields. Season of year for successful planting and method of plant- 

 ing. Sources of injury or loss, and means of combating. (Fig. 18.) 



Regions where forest plantations are needed and commonly started. 

 Purposes for which plantations are set out. Kinds of trees profit- 

 able in plantations. Pure and mixed plantations, and advantages 

 of each. 



