8 ADVICE FOE FOEEST PLANTERS IN OKLAHOMA. 



the planting site, the climatic conditions of the region, and the qual- 

 ities of the tree species that may be planted must be thoroughly con- 

 sidered. Further, a planting plan applicable to a farm on the prai- 

 ries or plains requires that the whole system of farm management be 

 considered. The forest plantations on any farm must be subsidiary to 

 the business interests of the farmer. A plantation might be made 

 that would not only be useless, but a positive damage to the farm. 



The planting plans described herein were prepared with special 

 reference to the wants of farmers and other tree planters, and to the 

 local conditions in the belt- to which each applies. The model plant- 

 ing plan (pp. 31-36) has been made to lit practically perfect condi- 

 tion- on a flat prairie. While it is quite probable that this plan un- 

 modified could be applied on but a -mall proportion of the farms of 

 the region, it illustrates principles that an 1 fundamental to any useful 

 planting plan. It i- expected that farmers using the plan will modify 

 it to lit their need- and opportunities. 



THE ABILITY OF THE REGION TO SUPPORT FORESTS. 



A large part of this region i- practically without natural forests, and 

 only a -mall pari of it i- capable of growing trees without cultivation. 

 The Lowland- Bell is potentially a foresl area, bul westward of it- 

 border- climatic condition- become more and more inhospitable to 

 tree growth. A large part of the region lie- where prairies and plain- 

 merge. The rainfall decreases steadily from upward of 38 inches 

 per year in the southeast to less than i'2 inches in the northwest. 

 This i- due to a situation which gives tie- eastern portion the benefit 

 of moisture-laden wind- from the Gulf of Mexico, but leaves the 

 western portion under the control of the dry wind- thai descend from 



the Rockii for in this case the common law that increasing altitude 



i- correlated with increasing humidity i- contradicted. The figure-; 

 on the map (Frontispiece) -how- how the average annual 'precipita- 

 tion decreases steadily from the eastern to the western stations, and 

 emphasize the necessity for considering the rainfall and other climatic 

 factor- of each locality when making a planting plan. A- a rule 

 the seasonal distribution and character of the precipitation must be 

 studied also, since it i- often true with trees a- with field crops (hat 

 a. moderate rain during the growing season i- of more value than a 

 heavy rain after growth has ceased. 



The great fertility of the -oil. together with the rapidly increasing 

 population, give- promise that this part of the country i- destined to 

 a large development. For these reasons every effort should be put 

 forth to overcome the unfavorable conditions which hinder foresl 

 planting and thus retard the region's development. There i- no 

 doubt that by carefully -electing the species, choosing -unable situa- 



