40 MISC. PUBLICATION 4 3 4, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SELECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE NURSERY SITE 



The proper selection of a nursery site is a prime essential in success- 

 ful nursery management. The topography, location, fertility, and 

 texture of the soil and the quality and accessibility of irrigation water 

 will markedly affect the cost of production of the nursery stock. 

 Closeness to market or to the planting operation is an additional point 

 to consider. 



Topography and Location 



The ideal nursery site in the prairie-plains region is most likely to 

 be a smooth, flat, stone-free, and moderately sandy soil on a stream 

 terrace (fig. 10) or in an area formerly occupied by a glacial lake. 

 Some upland sites are also satisfactory. It is highly desirable that 

 the site have a uniform slope, preferably in one direction, in order to 

 facilitate furrow irrigation. Acceptable gradient varies with soil 

 texture, ranging from a minimum of 0.25 percent on the finer- textured 

 soils having a slow infiltration rate up to a maximum of 2.0 percent 

 on the sandier soils that permit rapid infiltration. A hilly or choppy 

 surface adds so tremendously to the cost of the nursery operation 

 that it is poor economy to begin nursery production on anything but 

 the best available site even though the initial cash outlay may seem 

 high. 



One of the things to consider in the selection of a nursery site is the 

 avoidance so far as possible of damage from frequent hailstorms. A 

 study of the hail-insurance rates for the six prairie-plains States, 

 based on the location of definite hail belts by the insurance com- 

 panies, reveals an increasing probability of hail as one proceeds west- 

 ward. Also certain local areas, such as the sand hills of Nebraska and 

 the rolling morainic lands in the central and eastern parts of the 

 Dakotas, where comparatively rough topography prevails, have higher 

 rates than surrounding land. Such areas should be generally avoided 

 in selecting a nursery site. 



It is a well known fact that local terrain has a marked effect on the 

 severity and occurrence of late spring and early fall frosts. Danger 

 areas generally lie in basins where there is lack of adequate air move- 

 ment and should be avoided in selection of a nursery site. 



Soil Texture 



Forest Service experience in producing many millions of deciduous 

 seedlings has definitely shown that moderately sandy soils are most 

 desirable for nurseries. The top 18 to 24 inches of the soil should 

 range from a sandy loam to a loam, although the lighter silt loams 

 are fairly satisfactory. Heavier soils are recommended only if the 

 class of stock produced is to be balled and burlapped. 



The substratum must be reasonably retentive of moisture. Sites 

 with open and porous coarse sand or gravel substrata should be 

 avoided, unless an overhead irrigation system is available, because 

 of the frequent irrigation necessary on such soils. It is desirable, 

 where furrow irrigation is used, to have a somewhat heavier subsoil 

 below the 2-foot depth in order to retain moisture within reach of the 

 tree roots. Its texture can range from a sandy clay to a loam, silt 

 loam, or clay loam. If such a subsoil is present, it must be deter- 

 mined with reasonable certainty that no trouble will be encountered 



