Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-22
INV 10 Reclaim Forest Lands.

From a leafiet by Prof Frank W..
Rane. issued by the society FOR the
protection of New Hampshire forests.
the following is taken.
1T is not an easy matter to give eX-
plicit directions for doing TINS WORK,
as we have so many kinds and condi-
lions of soil The practical ways 10
got tree growth started are as follows:
Seeding. transplanting trees and copse
growth.
'.There are various ways by which
seeding is accomplished. our present
method is the natural one. by which We
simply take what nature gives us. II
we will allow Il few Old trees to re-
main when harvesting the crop. say
six pine trees to the acre, well distrib-
rltcd. these old trees win seed the land
themselves. Where no trees are left
for seeding purposes and one wants to
get pine established. it is necessary to
seed the land The old trees produce
cones in abundance only about once
in three years, and some people claim
n full crop only once in seven years in
Il single location. therefore. if seed can
be collected or purchased cheaply.
much time is saved by seeding. SOW
ing or planting. rather than to wait
for the slower process.
There are many ways advocated for
using pine seed Land that can be pre-
pared for seeding usually is too valu-
able for forest lands, and hence other
ways are to be employed. For lands
over which a heavy, old-fashioned v
shaped drag, with heavy ircn teeth
can be run 50 as to break up the sod,
etc, ii is a good implement to use. and
then sowing the seed on this may
answer. Another way is to use a grub
hoe or heavy hoe, scratching UP or dis
ging the soil enough to drop some
seed IN. then covering by pressing the
ground over them. Again, others advo-
cate Just sowing the seed plentifully
upon the ground to be stocked Anoth
er method is to find young trees grow
ing wild in nature. dig them up and
reset into the ground TO be restocked.
II is rather expensive and impractical.
except on a small scale.
When the seedlings have been
handled once they are then called
transplants and are more expensive,
hut are claimed TO stand trans
planting to permanent fields far
be made 4 success under the above con-
tlitions, We are at present trying to
ascertain. The method that seems the
more practical is to grow our own
seedlings from seed. as they do in the
west, then we can have them at
minimum cost and the risk in trans
planting would be much less.
The copse method Of prcpa eating a
forest is applicable to the lard woods
only, and is the allowing of shoots or
suckers to spring up about the old tree
stump that has been cut. This is a
quick and profitable way oi making
fireWcod.
TO reclaim a tract of land il is nee
essary to first look the lani over, leav
ing it's nature and conditions to sug
gest in measure what is the best
way to handle it. If seed can be col
lActed cheaply it will be coed idea 10
attempt the various ways OF seeding
if there ara some mature trees on the
ground. even Old scrub trees, that viii
produce seed, keep them to assist YOU
and Wren the desired results are OBJ
tanned these old trees can be cut and
utilized. Many times there is more or
less Indifferent growth on such lana.
and by planting or seeding along the
edges of this, just the kind of condi-
lions wanted are at hand. Now if IT
the same time that the seeding is be
gun nursery is started. these tres
will answer nicely for filling out the
places Wnere the seed does not take.
Thera is much discussion as 20 just
HOY; far apart the tree should stand.
In Germany about feet is recommend
ed; in this country, feet. | have
talked with a number of cur best so
called experts. from the United States
department of agriculture and Yale
forestry school, ana even these men
differ in their opinions AS to this ques
ton. The purpose of setting, the
plants close is to induce the trees 10
run up straight meanwhile having
them so close that the lower limbs are
shut out from the light. thus dying
VIXEN small. Where trees are set Xxi
feet apart it requires 27c2 to the acre,
and when set 10X'0 feet, t3o.