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extensive areas of cut-over lands, from which the pine has been 
removed. These cut-over lands are covered with alow growth of Birch 
and Aspen, with a few other hard woods intermixed, among which are 
occasionally young pines, their number and species dependent on the 
proximity of uncut areas. 
The soil of the region is a sandy clay loam, varying greatly in char- 
acter within limited areas. The better soils are being cultivated, but 
throughout the region there are tracts too poor for cultivation, and 
these, having once produced a crop of pine, may be reforested, and thus 
be made measurably profitable. Left without care, the cut lands pro- 
duce, first of all, a dense growth of Aspen, Birch, Alder,and other hard 
woods in less numbers. After a time, depending largely upon the 
proximity of seedling pine trees, young pines appear in this forest 
cover, and if fire is kept out these seedlings will undoubtedly develop 
into merchantable trees; but in thus leaving the land to nature there 
is apt to be either a very poor stand of pines or an uneven stand, or 
undesirable varieties may gain the ascendancy, while in any case the 
danger of fire is constant. 
An effort will be made at the Grand Rapids station to demonstrate 
the best methods of growing pine on cut lands. Various methods will 
be tried and different species will be employed, both pure and in mix- 
ture. Owing to the lateness of the season when arrangements were 
completed for work at this station, only a small plat was planted in 1897. 
Underplanting. 
In one corner of a large field from which the merchantable timber had 
been cut several years before, 1 acre was roughly staked off and planted 
to Red Pine and White Pine without disturbing the soil cover. The 
natural growth consisted of young Aspen, Birch, and Alder, from 4 to 
8 feet high, growing principally in clumps, with narrow grass-covered 
openings among them. A few seedling White Pines, 5 to 15 inches 
high, were found scattered among the hard woods, and toward one side 
of the plat was a group of vigorous pines about 40 years old, of both 
Red and White species. Jack Pine 50 feet high was also growing in 
the immediate vicinity, and there were a few mature Aspens and 
Birches. While the growth was sufficient to make quite a dense shade 
over the greater part of the area, it was not shady enough to prevent 
erass, andl the few wild White Pine seedlings were in fine condition. 
The stock that was planted in had been received from nurseries and 
planted in nursery rows a few weeks before, and of course this second 
moving was not beneficial. The seedlings were 8 to 10 inches high and 
in good condition when received. They were planted with a spade, 
without disturbing the existing growth, approximately 4 by 6 feet 
apart. One thousand Red (Norway) and 500 White Pine were set. 
On July 15 a count Showed 680 Red (68 per cent) and 414 White (83 
