FOREST PLANTING IN THE LAKE STATES 23 
Forest Service has concluded that for Norway pine in these locali- 
ties first-class 2-0 seedlings with good roots are superior to trans- 
plants in terms of final cost of the established plantation. This 
conclusion may be made general for the region. Similarly, the 
economic considerations indicate that 3-0 or 2-1 stock of northern 
white pine and 2-1 stock of white spruce are to be preferred to the 
more costly 2-2 stock. 
Successful plantations of Norway and northern white pine have 
been established by digging natural seedlings and resetting them on 
the planting site. (PL 2, A.) Experiments with wild stock at the 
Cloquet station gave reasonably good results, although not as good 
as with nursery stock. Ordinarily the wild seedlings are not easy 
to find in large quantities. Moreover, they have a poorer root 
system and are less likely to succeed than those grown in nurseries. 
Unless they can be dug in spare time or without incurring special 
cost for labor, they are usually more expensive than stock purchased 
from the State nurseries. If wild seedlings are used, they should 
not be over 8 inches high; larger ones are less likely to survive the 
transplanting. 
The following conclusions in regard to age of trees for planting 
may be drawn: 
Good stock of 1-0 jack pine, 2-0 Norway pine, 3-0 northern white 
pine, 2-1 white spruce, the smallest sizes which are likely to suc- 
ceed, are better than larger and more expensive stock when judged by 
the final cost of established plantations. The differences between 
these different classes; of stock as measured by growth or survival 
are small and unimportant as compared with their relative cost. 
For the hardwoods, 1-0 seedlings are satisfactory. 
Digging wild seedlings is usually a less successful and more ex- 
pensive method than purchasing small nursery stock for planting. 
METHODS OF PLANTING STOCK 
Different hole, silt, and furrow methods and combinations of them 
have been tried in an effort to establish plantations at a minimum 
cost without sacrificing survival or favorable development of the 
trees. All of them have given satisfactory results when practiced 
by reasonably competent crews under good supervision. 
HOLE METHOD 
In the square or deep hole method a mattock or spade may be 
used in planting. A hole is dug sufficiently large and deep to allow 
the roots to be extended to their full depth. The tree is held per- 
pendicularly in the hole with roots fully extended, while the better 
soil removed from the hole and separated from the stones, grass, and 
roots is packed firmly about the roots. The hole is filled and well 
packed except for a top layer left loose to serve as a mulch. Ordi- 
narily, one man makes the holes, and another plants the trees. On 
slopes, care should be taken to see that the tree is upright and that 
the surface of the soil placed around the tree is at the same angle 
as the slope. If depressions are left, washing occurs, or the hole is 
filled with leaves and litter which may smother the plant. When 
the hole method is used on areas covered with heavy sod, it is desir- 
