16 BULLETIN 1430, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
flood line of the stream. Furthermore, they would not be subject 
to excessive surface erosion so long as the greater portion of the 
retaining dam remained intact. Their level surface, great fertility, 
ease of cultivation, and immunity from flooding render such lands 
extremely valuable for farming purposes. As the stream cuts its 
new channel to the depth allowed by the removal of the dam, it 
might be desirable to plant to stream side shrubs, the bank thus 
being formed, in order to prevent corrasion and restrict meandering. 
PLANTING A WOOD 
In considering plans for forest planting a decision should first 
be reached as to the most desirable species to employ. In making 
such a choice full weight should be given (1) to the health and 
vigor of different species, (2) to the cost of propagating stock for 
planting, (3) to the ease of planting, and (4) to the initial rate of 
growth of the kind of tree from the point of view of obtaining a 
suitable soil cover within the shortest period. Such consideration 
should have as much weight as the value of the timber that would 
be produced by the stand within the period of growth. 
Native trees as a rule should be selected. A careful study of the 
site should be made to ascertain which of the native species is most 
suitable for the site, and the quality or productive capacity of the 
site for the species in question should be ascertained. For their 
value in growing timber, soils are classified on the basis of the num- 
ber of cubic feet of solid wood of a specified kind of tree that can 
be produced within a given period. If other than a native species 
is selected, it is more difficult to decide upon these points. 
The following native species are particularly to be recommended 
for planting for protective purposes in the sections for which desig- 
nated, but they by no means include all of the desirable native 
species. High altitudes and particularly unfavorable sites, includ- 
ing very dry or stony, shady, or wet sites, demand special species. 
In the Northeast, in the upper Mississippi Valley, and in the 
southern parts of the Lake States, the white pine is the most desir- 
able conifer for general conditions on sites to which adapted, and 
when not subject to destructive diseases and pests. Norway pine is 
suitable for sandy or poorer sites. If a hardwood species is to be con- 
sidered, red oak is unexcelled either by itself or in mixture with 
white pine, although the white pine as a rule will outgrow the red 
oak. In the Appalachians white pine is the desirable conifer for 
medium and higher altitudes particularly on the drier sites; and 
yellow poplar and red oak are the most desirable broad-leaved 
species. In the southern Piedmont regions and the lower Mississippi 
Valley and in the Ozarks shortleaf or rosemary pine on the uplands 
with southern red oak on similar sites and yellow poplar on moist 
(not wet) sites are the best suited species. In the northern Rocky 
Mountain region and on the northwest coast western white pine and 
Douglas fir can be expected to give the best results under average 
conditions. In the Southwest on medium sites the western yellow 
pine is the desirable tree, but the species, preferably a local one, 
should suit the site and altitude. 
