4 Miscellaneous Circular 16, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture 

 OBJECTS OF TREE DISTRIBUTION AND PLANTING 



The main object of the tree distribution by the Government is to 

 stimulate interest in forest-tree growing, chiefly for the production 

 of fuel and fence posts and the establishment of windbreaks. With 

 proper care, woodlot plantations should begin to yield fence posts 

 and firewood in 15 years. Since trees will do well on soils not 

 suitable for farm crops, profitable use can be made of what might 

 otherwise be unproductive areas. Furthermore, the establishment 

 of windbreaks and wood lots makes living conditions pleasanter 

 and adds materially to the value of the property. 



THE SELECTION OF SITES FOR PLANTING 



The influence of the site, such as north slope, south slope, ridge 

 top. and bottom, strongly affects the growth of various trees species. 

 It is probable that the greatest success will come from planting on the 



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Fig. 



4. Fifteen-year jack pine planted in the sand hills of the Nebraska National 



Forest. Thomas County. Xebr. 



north slopes, where the soil is generally more moist and is protected 

 to some extent from the drying heat of the sun. Frost leaves the 

 ground on the north slopes a little later in the spring, but by the 

 time the season is far enough advanced for planting (generally 

 March 15 to 30) the soil will be in excellent condition for j)lanting. 

 Where the ground is level, or nearly so. the choice of site is. of course. 

 not governed by topographical conditions: one place is as good as 

 another. 



WHEN TO PLANT 



The rainfall at Halsey averages 21 inches a year, but in the ex- 

 treme western portion of the State it amounts to only 15 inches. 



The period from April 1 to June 30 is marked by more than the 

 average rainfall. Records show that -12 per cent of the total rain- 

 fall for the whole year comes in the three months of April, May. 

 and June. It is very important, therefore, to begin planting iinme- 



