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The organisation for the whole work of transplanting is shown in the following table :—

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* The foreman makes the irrigation laterals in the centre of the 2 ft. space between the beds, as each bed is planted.

Stock distribution is now being placed under scientific management.

The Feigly Tree Digger is used to lift the plants. It resembles a plough, but has a share like an L-shaped knife, with a wedge-shaped piece of iron attached to the blade, an inch back from the cutting edge. It is drawn by two horses in tandem along the row of plants, and severs the roots, about seven inches below the surface, raising the plants so that the slice of earth breaks up when it falls back into place behind the Digger, leaving the trees so that they can be pulled from the ground quite easily, yet without exposing the roots.

Where formerly it took one man with a spade to lift what two men could pull, with the Tree Digger two men can lift enough to keep twenty men pulling.

Considerable loss resulted from the use of the Digger during the first experimental stages.

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The men follow the Digger, pull the plants and tie them up in bunches of a hundred. These bunches are laid down, and the roots covered with a handful of dirt.

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The bundles are packed immediately before they have to be despatched. The bunches are thrown into the wagon and conveyed to the Packing Machine. This really consists of a box mounted on legs, and having one hinged side.

Two 6-ft. lengths of yarn placed 1 ft. apart, and having stapled to them. at 18 in. distance, two wooden cleats, are placed at the bottom of the Packing Box and hung over both sides. A strip of burlap 6 ft. by 21 in. follows, and finally a sheet of wrapping-paper. The bunches of plants, after a moderate root pruning, are then laid in the packer with the roots inwards, in two layers, which are well packed by wet shingle tow. When the container is full, the ends of the burlap and paper are drawn together at the top, and wrapped around a stick 1 in. by 2 in. by 2 ft., whose ends protrude about 2 in. beyond the edge of the burlap. A 16-in. "wrench" is applied to these ends, and the stick is turned so as to fold the burlap over it, and tighten it as much as desired. A catch on the packer holds the wrench in position, while the yarn is tied tighter round the bundle, which is then ready for shipment. The hinged side of the packer is then let down, and the bundle taken out.

An average bundle weighs 90 lb., and contains 4,000 plants. The bundles are easier to handle than wooden boxes, and much faster to pack. The plants do not dry out or heat.

class.

Each bundle is stencilled to show the number of trees, species, and age

Formerly, boxes were used. The Packing Machine and the bundle method are the invention of the Nursery. The cost of packing has been reduced thereby from 34d. to 1d. per 1,000 plants.

The age of transplant stock when shipped for planting out is as follows:

Pinus ponderosa-1-2 (3 years, being 1 year seedling and 2 year transplant).

Pinus monticola-1 and 2—2.

Pinus strobus-1 and 2-2.
Picca engelmanni—2—2.
Larix occidentalis-2-2.
Thuja plicata-—2—2.

The methods of sowing are of interest. All coniferous seed is sown broadcast in the beds, which are 4 ft. by 48 ft. with 2 ft. paths. A sufficient quantity of seed for 48 square feet is placed in pails set 12 ft. apart in the rows. The sower walks down one side and up the other, from pail to pail, of the row, casting the seed from the path to the centre in quarter circular

sweeps.

The seed is covered with river sand. The depth of the sand cover has been proved to be of vital importance. For White Pine a quarter inch is the best, and one pound of seed with this depth of cover is as good as two pounds at half an inch.

The sand is distributed with a shovel, levelled off with a straight-edged board, and packed with a water-weighted roller.

I was shown a machine which is now being developed for the purpose of spreading an even depth of sand and rolling it at the same time. It consisted of a carrier from which the sand poured on to a travelling canvas operated by cogs from the roller wheels. It is a machine which should exercise an important influence on nursery practice.

The unit crew for sowing consists of two men to wheel and spread the sand, one to weigh and sow the seed, and two to level off the sand and roll the beds. This crew can sow and cover two hundred 12 ft. beds per day.

Apart from general policy, the nursery managers are given an almost free hand, in accordance with the general American habit of non-interference with management, and judgment by results. The system makes for progress.

Detailed cost-keeping records are a feature at the Savenac Nursery. The cost of production varies from 12s. to £1 4s. per 1,000 plants, but averages 16s. 6d., which, with planting at 8 ft. apart, represents an initial expense for stock of 11s. 2d. per acre.

With the extension of scientific management throughout all the nursery operations, it is expected that this cost will be reduced by a further 25 per cent.

Five thousand one hundred and eighty-seven acres were planted in 1915, at an average cost of £1 5s. per acre, including the cost of the stock.

It is estimated that ultimately this figure will be brought down to £1.

One thousand five hundred and twenty acres were broadcasted in the forest as an experiment at a cost of 13s. 6d. per acre.

The seed spot method is also being tried out. Direct seeding is done on experimental areas chiefly, but is sometimes employed to establish small patches of growth on large burns as a basis for subsequent natural regeneration.

In every district, intensive experiments are required to be made, with a view to determining and developing the best methods.

Forest supervisors are responsible for the effective direction and extension of reforestation work. Assistance is furnished by the District Forester.

In District No. 1 this function has been taken over by the Chief of Planting at the District Office.

The leaving of seed trees during logging for the purpose of reforestation of cut-over areas by natural regeneration is a general practice in the United States of America. Timber sale contracts provide for the ringbarking or felling of defective, diseased, or dead trees, and the burning of débris and brush, and grazing is excluded for some years. A close study of cut-over areas is also made with a view to developing natural regeneration.

These, however, are really the only measures of natural regeneration adopted, and the growing and planting of nursery stock is the chief feature of the reforestation plan.

It is laid down that areas which are not satisfactorily restocked within ten years from the date of cutting are to be taken up as planting projects.

Operations are restricted at present to the most favourable areas, with a view to developing successful methods capable of application to less favoured sites.

When the most suitable areas are not known definitely a planting reconnaissance is made before any other work is undertaken. Its basis is a strip survey disclosing the location, size, and accessibility of the area, its soil, elevation, aspect, climatic factors, and present cover; the species, methods, and seasons promising the best results; and the size and organisation of the most efficient crew and the estimated cost of the project.

The planting reconnaissance map shows

(1) Green timber.

(2) Brush prohibitive to planting (very dense brush).
(3) Reproduction sufficient (400 or more trees per acre).
(4) Alienations.

(5) Proposed camp sites (one to every 800-1,000 acres).
(6) Proposed tracks.

(7) Proposed roads.

(8) Outlines of planting areas according to species, age, classes, and spacing to be used.

On the back of the map are shown data as to

(1) Soil.

(2) Brush.

(3) Windfall.

(4) Standing dead timber.

The planting instructions issued by District No. 1 for 1916 work provided for the following organisation for a planting crew of 35 men—

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The new men are put in one crew, or in the middle of the line.

It is laid down that

(1) The camp should be ready before the crew arrives.

(2) Before work is commenced the man in charge should go over the planting area with his foreman and plan;

(a) A system for working the crews whereby they will start work each morning and finsh at night throughout the job, as near camp as possible.

(b) The best system to follow in keeping crews supplied with trees and water. Trees and water should be packed on horses whenever possible.

Each man is given a planting bag full of plants. The bag is carried over the shoulders. The foreman and end men are required to have them filled ready for the men before they leave camp. Wet burlap is wrapped round the roots in the bag to keep them moist.

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