280 FOKEbTRV INVESTIGATIONS IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



breaking the raw prairie in June and turning over a shallow sod, sowing a crop of oats or alfalfa, 

 harvesting it with a high stubble, then opening furrows for planting and leaving the ground 

 between furrows undisturbed, so as to secure the largest amount of drainage into the funows and 

 a mulch between the rows. 



The time for planting depends on climatic and soil conditions and the convenience of the 

 planter. Spring planting is preferable except in southern latitudes, especially in the West, where 

 the winters are severe and the fall apt to be dry, the sod therefore not in favorable condition for 

 planting. 



The time foi fall planting is after the leaves have fallen; for spiing planting, before or just 

 when life begins anew. In. order to be ready in time for spring planting, it is a good practice to 

 take up the plants in the fall and " heel them in " over winter (covering them, closely packed, in a 

 diy trench of soil). Conifers can be planted later in spring and earlier in fall than broad-leafed 

 trees. 



The demity of the trees is a matter in which most planters fail. The advantages of close 

 planting lie in the quicker shading of the soil, hence the better preservation of its moistuie and 

 improved growth and form development of the ciop. These advantages must be balanced against 

 the increased cost of close planting. The closer the planting the sooner will the plantation be 

 self-sustaining and the surer the success. 



If planted in squares, or, better still, in quincunx order (the trees in every other row alter- 

 nating at equal distances), which is most desirable on account of the more systematic work possible 

 and the more complete cover which it makes, the distance should not be moie than I feet, unless 

 for special reasons and conditions, while 2 feet apart is not too close, and still closer planting is 

 done by nature with the best success. 



The following numbers of trees per acre are required when planting at distances as indicated: 



II by 1] feet 19,360 2 by 4 ieet 5,445 



li by 2 feet 14,520 3 by 3 feet 4,840 



2 by 2 feet 10, S90 3 by 4 ieet 3,030 



2 by 3 feet 7,260 4 b\ 4 feet 2,722 



« 



To decrease expense, the bulk of the plantation may be made of the cheapest kinds of trees 

 that may serve as soil cover and secondary or nurse crop, the main crop of from 300 to GOO trees 

 to consist of better kinds and with better planting mateiial, mainly of light-needing species. 

 These should be evenly disposed through the plantation, each closely surrounded by the nurse 

 crop. It is of course understood that not all trees grow up; a constant change in numbers by 

 the death (or else timely removal) of the overshaded takes place, so that the final crop shows at 

 100 years a close cover, with haidly J00 trees to the acie. 



After culture is not entirely avoidable, especially under unfavorable climatic conditions and 

 if the planting was not close enough. Shallow cultivation between the lows is needed to prevent 

 weed growth and to keep the soil open until it is shaded by the young trees, which may take a 

 year with close planting and two or three years with rows <4 by 4 feet apart, the time varying also 

 with the species. 



It is rare that a plantation succeeds in all its parts j gaps or fail places occur, as a rule, and 

 must be filled in by additional planting as soon as possible if of larger extent than can be closed 

 up in a few years by the neighboring growth. 



When the soil is protected by a complete leaf canopy, the forest crop may be considered as 

 established, and the after-treatment will consist of judicious thinning. 



The diagrams following present planting schemes illustrative oi the rules given above, the 

 species being adapted to planting on the Western plains. 



