The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-08-22
TREES FROM sruMps.


TREES FROM STuMPs.
How Timber Can Be Raised from the
Roots Of Felled Trees.
As the method of raising oak woods
from stools has been successfully fol-
lowed in the cases Of some large woods
that have recently come under my
notice. and this is Is the season for
singing out the shoots on the oak stools,
few words as to the way in which the
work is generally done may be Of serv-
ice. Nothing can be done to adj
vantage in singing shoots of less than
two years growth; but as the stools
that were cut down two years ago will
have produced a considerable number
by-his time, il they were left untouched.
they would unnecessarily exhaust the
strength OF the roots. and would pro-
duce brushwood Of little use but for the
fire. while by fair amount Of attention
and at a moderate cost they may be
turned to much better account. We
must first consider the strength of the
stool to be thinned, and. In accordance
with this. leave more or less shoots
upon II. This number may vary from
one to four or five. Whatever number
Is decided upon it Is important to leave
only the straightest and most promising
Of the shoots, and to be careful that
they are as equally disposed round the
stool as possible. II is not web. how
ever, at this first cutting to take away
too many of the shoots, as if too small
q, number is left there will not be suffi-
Client channels to conduct the juices
away from the roots, and the result win
be that these juices will find an
outlet by forming new shoots at
the points where the original ones were
removed. On the other hand, II too
many are left, the sap will be too wide
ly distributed and the shoots will be-
come stunted and bark bound II will.
therefore, require little judgment on
the part Of the forester to guard against
these extremes. The best way to re-
move these superfluous shoots is to use
wedge-shaped chisel with a handle
some three feet long. To push them
off by means of this instrument is bet
ter than cutting them. as if they are cut
the stools will be more apt to shoot at
these points. Very little will now be
required to be done for another two
years, when the stools should again be
cleared of all young growths that have
risen up during the time. In another
two years.. O., the sixth from cutting,
stools which have been treated in the
way here recommended should be freed
from some of the shoots left at the first
thinning.
Where five were left it will probably
be necessary to remove two. and these,
of course. will be the worst The three
that are left should stand round the
stool as equally as possible. When only
four are left, cut out two, and leave the
two best as nearly opposite each other
as circumstances will admit. Up to
this point the treatment would be the
same whether intended merely for the
growth of oak poles for cutting at fif-
teen or twenty years growth or for the
raising of trees. If for the former. lit
tie more need be done; but If the latter,
it will be necessary to remove third
part Of the stands by the twelfth year
after cutting, or say to thin them out as
nearly as may be to distance of
seven feet or eight feet apart. At
periods of five years or so other stands
must be removed as the growth of the
young saplings require. The length of
time this process will have to be con-
tinued before the young trees will attain
marketable size must, of course. de-
pend on the circumstances of soil and
situation, but that young woods can be
successfully raised from stools does not
admit of doubt, as ] now know of
woods (as previously mentioned) that
are returning good revenue to the
owners that have been grown from
stool-sticks. One drawback to trees
grown ON this plan is that the butts
just above the roots are somewhat
trumpet-shaped, and the wood is often
defective for distance of few inches,
but these are minor matters. that do
not greatly tell against the usefulness
of thus growing the oak. The cutting
and barking of trees for the present
year has nearly come to an end, but a
word of caution as to the treatment OF
the stools intended to ROMAN for subs
quent growth may not be out of place,
and that is that the bark should on no
pretense be taken off them. They
should be left not more than four inches
above the surface of the ground, and
the edges of the bark where the tree
has been cut should be pared, that the
rain may readily run off, as If left to
lodge upon the stools it will seriously
interfere with their subsequent growth
and yitality.-1he Garden.