90 
ure, the principal difficulty must be attributed to the climate. Not 
only is the soil of the plains more compact and less moist than that 
of the lake region, where most of the large evergreen nurseries are 
located, but the air of the West is much drier, and there are almost 
constant winds which increase evaporation. The newly planted trees 
are thus subjected to much more severe conditions than those under 
which they were grown. Under the most favorable conditions of trans- 
planting there is apt to be a greater loss in conifers than in hard woods, 
and in the case of seedling evergreens that are shipped long distances 
to dry climates heavy losses are not surprising. 
In some cases the trouble began at the nurseries, where the stock 
was not sufficiently protected from the air while the trees were being 
dug and packed, and where the packing was so loosely done that the 
trees dried badly in transit. One shipment was made so late that the 
trees sprouted badly in the boxes, and the delicate young growth 
withered on exposure to the light. 
Very few of the Western commercial nurseries beyond the immediate 
influence of the Great Lakes attempt to grow coniters from the seed, 
having learned from experience that it is more profitable to buy the 
young seedlings. Beyund the Missouri the difficulties of nursery care 
for conifers are so much increased that it is the almost universal prac- 
tice of nurserymen to purchase their evergreen stock as needed for 
orders. 
These facts do not show that the evergreens are unsuitable for plant- 
ing in the plains, but they emphasize the difficulty of securing a good 
start. The trees once established are as easily cared for and quite as 
sure of success as any of the broad-leafed species, perhaps even surer. 
With favorable conditions at planting time and during the first season, 
the majority of conifers will become so well established as to withstand 
as great Vicissitudes as the hard-wood trees. Like the hard woods, their 
rate of growth will be affected by the season, but the record of the 
Scotch Pine and the White Spruce at Brookings station indicates that 
the trees are fully as well adapted to that location as are any of the 
Species tested there. At many localities in the plains conifers are 
growing well. It is evident, therefore, that once a successful method 
of bringing the trees through the first few years is discovered, the 
principal difficulty in coniferous planting will have been met. 
When the stock was received at the several stations, the roots were 
well puddled and the stock was carefully heeled in, in a shady place, 
to await favorable weather for transplanting. Moist, cloudy weather, 
with fresh soil, are the best conditions for transplanting, but these con- 
ditions can rarely be commanded in the West, and in some eases, after 
waiting as long as possible for good weather, it became necessary to 
plant the trees during bright days, in rather dry soil. A continuance 
of clear weather resulted in constantly increasing dryness, so that 
many of the trees died before rain came. The men had been carefully 
