Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. ■ ■ - . .... - .. ., . * A* • • * • j . W*M /iP®¥&ir &$£ effijraSMBMEafl M ‘^•i- j *’ A Guide to Planting On the following pages will be found information of a helpful nature to those interested in planting coniferous trees for reforestation, water-shed protection or ornamental purposes. Details relative to the planting of Christmas Trees for commercial markets are also included. When to Pla?u ^ Best results will be obtained by plant¬ ing in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground. At this time, the roots become firmly established while there is plenty of moisture in the ground. Sum¬ mer months afford an opportunity for ' the trees to become thoroughly rooted before the winter months set in. Fall planting can often be done with success, but it is usually a gamble. Lack of moisture in the ground and heaving of the trees by frost, before the roots be¬ come firmly set, is fatal to the small trees. IP hat to Pla?it ^ For Forest Planting — White Pine Red Pine Scotch Pine White Spruce Norway Spruce . BROWN, VICE PRESIOENT ANO TREASURER PITTSBURGH BROWN, ASSISTANT TREASURER u. S. State Dept, of Agrie. Federal Horticulture Board Washington, D. C. Gentlemen: 192Q, eceivedj | SEP 4 1928 As a guide to your efforts In the raising and mar¬ keting of coniferous trees, we are supplying you with the en¬ closed pamphlet. Price lists giving species available for fall 1928 and spring 1929 are included. With a favorable growing season just finished, we are now in a position to offer you a fine crop of healthy young trees, well suited for ornamental, or reforestation purposes . It will be to your advantage to make immediate inquiry relative to any item in which you may be interested. Certain species of our stock are limited and all orders are subjeot to prior sale. We are so situated that we can take orders for future deliveries, and grow any of the Northern species according to specified requirements. If you require more definite information, do not hesitate to write us. We will gladly help you with your problems and send along sample trees for your inspection. You are, furthermore, invited to make a personal inspection of the stock at the nursery, situated on the shore of Cupsuptic Lake four miles from Oquossoc, Maine. Yours very truly, BROWN COMPANY NURSERY K:G Oquossoc, Maine. ># BROWN For Christmas Trees — Balsam Fir White Spruce Norway Spruce For Water-Shed Protection — Any of the conifers For Ornamental Plantings — Colorado Blue Spruce Engelmann Spruce Arborvitae Douglas Fir Mugho Pine Austrian Pine Norway Spruce White Spruce Balsam Fir W hat to Plant ( Soils J In Dry Sandy Soils — Red Pine Scotch Pine Jack Pine In Moist or Sandy Loam — White Pine Red Pine Scotch Pine Norway Spruce 3 Arborvitae Colorado Blue Spruce Mugho Pine Austrian Pine Engelmann Spruce In Moist Loam or Clay Loam — White Spruce Norway Spruce White Pine Balsam Fir Arborvitae What to Plant ( ShadeJ In Dense Shade — White Spruce Norway Spruce Engelmann Spruce Arborvitae Balsam Fir In Partial Shade — White Pi ne Colorado Blue Spruce Scotch Pine In Full Light — Red Pine eMY) 4 Care of Stock Upon Arrival Trees should be promptly unpacked upon arrival. If they are not to be set out at once they should be Heeled-In. Dig a trench of sufficient depth to accom¬ modate the roots in an upright position without crowding. In this position, cover the roots with dirt, packing it firmly. Keep the roots moist at all times, and when heeling-in, be sure not to crowd the bunches, as this will cause the trees to heat. Trees are usually received from the nursery tied in bunches of 25 to 100 trees, depending upon their size. To facilitate handling, the trees should be left in bundles until needed for planting. Trees should be heeled-in in a place where they will be protected from sun and drying winds. An old shed without a floor is an ideal place for heeling-in. If this is not avail¬ able, a shady place in the open well pro¬ tected can be used. Trees can often be kept in good condition for two or three weeks, by this method. The sooner, how¬ ever, that trees can be planted, the better, as heeling-in retards their growth some¬ what. Too much emphasis cannot be placed on keeping the roots of conifers constant¬ ly protected. In every step of handling, the roots should be kept moist and at no time should they be allowed to become dry. 5 A Guide to Forest Planting Size of Trees Either three or four year old trans¬ plants are best adapted to reforestation purposes. Transplants are trees that have been grown in seedbeds for two years and then transplanted. In the transplant beds, these seedlings are spaced and care¬ fully weeded. They have more fertilizer available, and the roots have an ideal place in which to develop, as the soil is kept loose by cultivation. Three year old transplants generally average from 3" to 5" in height, while four year old transplants generally aver¬ age from 5" to 10". Except in the most ideal locations, four year old transplants are preferred because — 1. The trees are larger, roots are better developed and the trees better proportioned as to roots and tops. 2. The extra years of growth in the transplant beds, often amounts to more than the first three years growth after the tree has been plant¬ ed in the forest. Thus, valuable time is saved in raising the forest crop. 3. The larger size of the tree better enables it to combat weeds, hard¬ wood bushes and other impediments in its struggle for existence. 6 fow to Pla?it ^ Standard planting distance is usually six feet each way. Theoretically, 1200 trees would be used per acre, but due to rocks, stumps and the rough topography of the ground, not more than 1000 trees are usually used. Since trees are usually allowed to shift for themselves after they are in the ground, they should be given a good start by careful planting. Two men comprise a crew. A grub hoe or mattock is used for making the holes in which the trees are set. One man using the grub hoe takes the duff, or sod, off a space about 12" square. Then driving his hoe to the hilt in the center of this space he makes a hole for the insertion of the tree. The second man follows the first. He carries a pail which holds the trees with their roots immersed in about one inch of muddy water. He places a tree in the hole made by the first man and firmly stamps the soil around the tree, so that the roots are in close contact with the soil and the tree firmly held. Care should be used in keeping the roots well spread out and not doubled back so they will come close to the surface. Spac¬ ing between trees is determined by the man with the grub hoe, who paces out the correct distance. Stakes are used on each side of the lot to insure the rows being kept straight. 7 Compare these Illustrations A four year old White Pine tree grown at the Brown Company Cupsuptic Nursery, Oquossoc, Maine A four year old, forest grown White Pine tree. Note scragginess of foliage and root system. MANY people do not appreciate the difference between a nursery- grown pine tree and one that is forest grown. These illustrations are from actual photographs. The tree at the left, a White Pine, was grown at the Brown Company, Cupsuptic Nursery and is exactly the same age as the tree on the right, wfaich is a four year old forest-grown product. Note the difference in sizjs and particularly the root system. Proof enough that Nursery-grown trees are superior. After a little practice, two men should plant iooo trees a day on average ground, and do the work well. Probable Yield W3 * “Not many figures are available con¬ cerning yields from plantations. A study of older plantations in Massachusetts a number of years ago revealed that some of these had made very good growth. Yields per acre of 17,000 B. F. in 36 years — 24,000 B. F. in 39 years — 32,000 B. F. in 46 years — and 44,000 B. F. in 60 years are recorded in White Pine plantations. A mixed 48 year old stand of White Pine and Norway Spruce contained 33,000 board feet per acre. Given good care in fair soil in their native region, the more valuable species of coni¬ fers should yield 10,000 to 25,000 board feet to the acre at an age of 50 years, in many cases a great deal more.” * From Farmers' Bulletin #1453. By C. R. Tillotson. A Guide to Christmas T ree Planting Size of Yrees wo Four year old transplants are most generally used for Christmas Tree Plant- ing. This size tree requires less weeding and is as easily set out in a plowed furrow as the smaller trees. 10 Qorrect Spacing ^ Trees for Christmas Tree Planting are usually spaced four by four feet to enable cultivation, 2,700 trees being planted to the acre. ShCow to Pliant In planting Christmas Trees, the ground is usually prepared as for any field crop. Then the field is furrowed out in each direction with a one-horse shovel plow. Furrows are spaced about four feet apart. This allows for cross cultivation with a horse for the first two years and hence cuts hand weeding to a minimum. Trees are planted by two men ; one man carrying the trees in a pail and placing them in an upright position at the intersection of the furrows, while the second man, using a garden hoe, places the dirt around the roots of the tree, firmly stamping it down with his feet. Two men should plant better than an acre a day, or 2,700 trees, after the ground is furrowed. Qhristmas T’ree Planting as a jHcture Qrop ^ Many farmers are finding it worth their while to plant Christmas Trees as a future crop. The general practice being to plant trees 4 years old and to cut them after 5 to 8 years. The following figures were prepared by the University of New 1 1 Hampshire some years ago, and have been corrected to meet present conditions. They are cited for what they may be worth, but not guaranteed. Planting Balsam Fir, spaced four by four feet, 2,720 trees per acre. Costs pe?' Acre : 2,720 trees, Balsam Fir 4 year transplants @ $20.00 per M . $ 54.40 freight . 10. 00 Plowing and Fertilizer . . . 30.00 Planting 2j man days @ $4.00 10.00 Cultivating . 10. 00 Int. on $105.00, 7 years @ 6 c/c 52.92 Total cost per acre .... $167.32 Receipts'. 2,448 trees (a $-3° each • $73440 Net return per acre .... $567.08 Net return per acre per year . $ 81.01 g A Guide to Planting for Water-Shed n Protection Correct Spacing -O Trees are spaced the same as for re¬ forestation except where soil erosion is anticipated, in which case four by four spacing is often advised. How to HI ant Procedure in planting for Water Shed Protection is the same as for reforestation purposes. See Pages 5 and 6.