44 FOEESTATIOX, SAXD HILLS I^EBBASKA AXD KAXSAS. 



FIELD SOWING. 



As early as the spring of 1903 dii-ect seeding, or the sowing of 

 seed m the field where the trees are to stand, was attempted. The 

 seed was simply broadcasted, and nothing came of it. Further 

 sowing of yellow pme was tried in 1904, but with corn planters t( 

 get the seed into the soil. Little evidence of germmation was found, 

 and no trees grew. The total failure may be ascribed largely to tlu 

 activities of field mice and other rodents, wdiich, in spite of the red- 

 lead covering which was placed on the seed, had begun uncovermij 

 and devourmg them withm three days. The idea of poisoning these 

 rodents had not at that time been developed. No success wa^ 

 attained with dkect seeding on the Nebraska Forest until 1909, and 

 then on such a small scale that it has had no practical influence. In 

 that year seed of yellow, Scotch, and jack pines were broadcasted 

 on the heav}^ litter under sand-hill willows and thoroughly raked m. 

 Within a short time seedlings appeared, and while all species ger- 

 minated, only the yellow-pine seedlings survived. These, at the 

 end of the third summer, made a stand ^ of about 850 seedlmgs pei- 

 acre. Considering that five seeds were sown to the square foot, this 

 is a very poor showing. However, conditions appear to be so favor- 

 able under the willow clumps that the possibility of obtaining a stand 

 by sowing m prepared seed spots is bemg uivestigated. So far, 

 rodents and birds seem to be the chief agents of failure. 



In Nebraska direct seedmg will never take the place of plantmg 

 on any but the most favorable sites, and possibly not there. It holds 

 no promise at all for the Kansas sand hills. 



EFFECT OF CLIMATE ON TIME OF PLANTING. 



Those climatic conditions of the sand hills which are unfavorable 

 to tree planting can not be changed as a whole, though as planting 

 progresses trees which are already established will temper the ^^^id 

 to those newly planted. On the other hand, the favorable climatic 

 conditions of early spring can be used to advantage, and the trees 

 can be weU established in their new conditions before the sum- 

 mer dry weather sets m. The dry periods are usually of rather 

 short duration, but are very trying. To take advanta2:e of the spring 

 season planting is begun just as soon as the frost is out of the ground, 

 especiall}^ on south slopes, which dry out very rapidly. The effective- 

 ness of early planting is shown not only by the generally greater 

 success with it in the last two or three years, but particularly^ by the 

 good results attained on south slopes, which, it was at first thought, 

 would be impossible to plant at all. 



Fall plantmg has been abandoned because of the lack of snow, 

 which leaves the newly planted trees exposed to drying winds for 



