Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-08-11
IN INTERESTS OF FORESTRY
How the Government Gives Valuable
Practical Assistance to Tree
Planters.

lue department OF agriculture
through the bureau of forestry gives
practical assistance to landowners in
establishing commercial forest planta-
lions, shelterbelts, windbreaks. and
snowbreaks, and in retaining shifting
sands and other waste lands by forest
planting. In connection with this work,
information will be given, when posi-
BILE, to interested communities through
the means of public meetings.
The purpose of the bureau in its CO.
operation in forest planting, the plan
of which has been followed continuously
since July 8. 1899, is to establish in suit
able localities examples of forest planta-
tions of the highest possible usefulness
and value to their owners, to afford OBJ
ject lessons of correct methods of for
est planting, and to encourage the arti-
fetal extension of forest growth in re-
gions where the public welfare demands
a greater forest area.
This offer does not include the prep
aration of plans for landscape garden
ing or decorative tree planting of any
kind, since such work is entirely out.
side the province of the bureau
The assistance rendered is usually
embodied in a planting plan. After an
application for assistance in forest
planting has been approved, an agent of
the bureau is usually sent to make a
preliminary examination of the appli-
cants land in order to determine the ad-
visibility of forest planting upon it. In
localities where the needed acquaint-
ance with local conditions is possessed
by the bureau, the preliminary examina-
ton will not be necessary. For small
areas where neither prolonged study
nor the services of assistants are re-
quired, the agent making the examina.
ton will, when planting is advisable,
prepare planting plan and submit it
to the owner before leaving the ground,
or advice will be sent from Washington.
For larger areas requiring prolonged
study or the services of assistants. or
both, the results of the preliminary ex-
animation will be embodied in TIE re-
port to the owner. If, as a result of the
preliminary examination, the prepare.
ton of detailed planting plan is rec
commended, and the owner so desires
the bureau of forestry will as soon as
practicable, undertake to prepare such
plan.
A planting plan contains full and COM
prehensive instructions for the neces-
sary forest planting upon the area ex-
amined, based upon a thorough study
of its needs and possibilities. 1t edu.
merates the proper species to plant III bn
each particular planting site. gives in
structions for the preparation of the
ground and for the spacing and setting
of the young trees, shows by diagrams
the arrangement of the different spe.
cies when more than one is advised, and
conveys information relative to procur-
ing or producing the seed and young
trees. A planting plan for a large
tract or for an area possessing great va
riations in topography and altitude is
accompanied by a sketch map OF
the area studied. In addition tc
the instructions for establishing the
forest plantation, the planting plan
outlines the cultural and pro.
tective measures necessary to insure the
maturing of a profitable forest crop. A
copy of the complete planting plan, with
all essential measurements, maps and
other data, is sent to the owner. The
bureau does not in any case furnish la
Dor, seeds, or nursery stock needed fo1
the execution Of planting plan.
Persons desiring the assistance Vi the
bureau of forestry as outlined should
make application to the forester of the
department of agriculture, by letter
specifying the exact location, state
county, township, range and section OF
which the planting is contemplated, the
acreage to be planted, and the time they
desire to begin planting. Application;
received during the fall and winter are
not likely to receive attention before tht
following spring on account of the diff
ficulty of carrying on field work in the
winter.