FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 105 



Hickory is a much more desirable tree to plant. The timber of sec- 

 ond growth hickory brings a good price. There is no doubt that the 

 rapidly increasing shortage of second growth hickory will make a per- 

 manent demand for this material, and where planting of hardwoods 

 is undertaken hickory should be in the mixture on all suitable situa- 

 tions. There seems little choice as to the species of hickory to plant, 

 but the kind that grows naturally in the particular locality would 

 probably be best. 



The propagation of chestnut by either sowing or planting has met 

 with little success in North Carolina. The difficulty of procuring 

 sound seed, and the destruction of seed by squirrels has made sowing 

 a very precarious and expensive method while the long taproot has made 

 planting difficult. 



Seeds of walnut, hickory, or chestnut should be planted in furrows, 

 drills, or seed spots. The ground may be prepared by ploughing a 

 furrow and planting a seed in or beside the furrow, or it may be 

 planted with a mattock, or even with a sharp stick without previous 

 preparation. Mixtures including all of the important nut bearing trees 

 are recommended for general planting, with, however, only a small 

 proportion of walnut. Variations must be made to suit local conditions 

 and the object for which the area is being planted. 



The oaks are best planted in seed spots, that is three or four seeds 

 together in a spot of earth loosened up with a mattock. In some States 

 planting the oaks by this method has been found very satisfactory. An 

 alternation of seed spots of oak with hickory should prove a satisfac- 

 tory method of reforesting suitable areas. If areas are well adapted 

 to the growth of hardwood the different species may be mixed in plant- 

 ing in such a way that an ideal proportion of the valuable hardwoods 

 may be procured. 



Sowing of the pines has generally been found very unsatisfactory 

 when the seed has been scattered over the area broadcast without pre- 

 vious preparation of the ground. But when the ground has been pre- 

 viously prepared there is a reasonable chance of success. This prep- 

 aration may be made in two ways : first, the whole area may be 

 ploughed and harrowed as for an ordinary farm crop; or second, seed 

 spots may be prepared with a mattock. In either case the seed is 

 lightly covered after being sown. The chances of success with the sec- 

 ond method may not be quite as great as with the first, but obviously 

 the cost is far less. 



The artificial regeneration of the spruce forest will probably not be 

 attempted by private individuals because of the expense of the opera- 



