Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women - Wise Acres Yearbook (Ambler, PA)

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A HOME-MADE TREE NURSERY Mira L. Dock “Yet it is not to be imagined without the experience of it, what prodigious numbers (of trees) a very small spot of ground, well cultivated and destined for this purpose, would be able to furnish. Pliny tells us that no tree should be removed under two, or over three years of age.” Evelyn’s “Sylva.” Evelyn might have added “once a tree-grower always a tree grower,” for, after the habit of sowing seed has taken root it becomes fixed, and each spring the casualties of the year before are forgotten as the sower goes forth with fresh hope. My first seed-bed was a most casual affair, just two shallow furrows run by a trowel in the edge of a small garden bed in some newl}’ purchased land at Graeffenburg, in the South Mountain (half way between Chambersburg and Gettysburg). This is a region of fine white pine and hemlock, and in the autumn of HUH, when the seed crop of white pine was very large, we daily gathered cones, and in mid-November I sowed in the two drills the seed shaken out from the dried cones, which half filled a one pound candy box. They were lightly covered with earth, then with fallen leaves, and left to their fate. In May, 1002, they began to germinate from the 10th onward, and finally there were 1010 seedling pines to transplant to prepared ground in a corner of the kitchen garden. By the spring of 1004 there were two well made seed-beds ready, each four x sixty feet, running east and west, as all seed-beds should, enclosed by eighteen inch high, open lath fences to keep rabbits out, and with plenty of lath screens npade on the half and half plan. A lath and a space the same width, alternating, the lath laid on three foot strips of inch board and placed on top of the fencing. Rabbits were not the only nursery trouble, but birds soon found the seed-beds a delightful place, and 1 then abandoned the long beds and changed to beds twelve x four feet, with box frames, four inches above the top of the beds, and used wire screens of one-sixth of an inch mesh, two screens four x six feet to a bed. These are perfect defences against birds, but should not be larger than three by four feet for quick handling by one person. Burlap or heavy paper is placed on top until germination has started, when I change to lath screens. In my opinion two by four is a better size for a lath screen than three by four, for women to handle. Then a new trouble developed, deer trampling the open beds of the two year old trees and eating the best specimens, and a six foot chicken wire fence was placed around the seed and transplant nurseries, the box frames were removed from transplant beds, and instead two stakes were driven in at end corners with one stake midway at each side, to which poles were attached on which the lath frames rested. For large transplants in the open field, of Fir, or other shade liking species, I use chicken wire overhead on stringers, with branches of broad leafed trees placed on the wire to give shade. 7

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the woodlands it is an indication that too much sunlight reaches the ground under the trees. Planting along the borders and within the woods, or the encouragement of growth of seedlings is necessary. Of course, grazing should not be permitted. Tree weeds should be removed from the woods just as garden weeds are removed from the garden. This means that if a red maple is interfering with a white ash, the red maple should be cut. Dead trees, of course, should be removed and used. If a crooked tree of any species is interfering with a straight, sound tree, the crooked and defective tree should be removed. If a large, branchy tree is taking up too much room and crowding out tall, straight stemmed trees, it should be removed and young growth should be started in its place. Trees of large size should be removed because they are matured and their room should be given to rapidly growing young trees. Trees grow to be cut and used and not to be preserved standing. Whenever a tree is cut the future of the forest growth should be considered, and only such trees should be cut as will leave the woods in better condition after the removal than it was before. The one agency which is doing most to reduce and prevent the production of wood on the forest areas of the nation today, is fire. Ninety-nine per cent, of fires, which are started in woodlands, are started by the carelessness of human beings. Forest fires, therefore, are preventable, and must be prevented in order to guarante the timber necessities of the people who come after us. Protection of the woods from fire is the first step in caring for woodlands, for, if this protection is not assured, it is useless to attempt to do anything else toward bettering the conditions of the forest. If fires are kept out of the forests, it will give the natural forces a chance to crystalize into wood volume. It will then be possible for the forester or those working under his directions to control the forces of nature in such way that they will accomplish the greatest good in the shortest period of time. We need wood. There is a shortage of wood now. We must protect our forest from fire and we must reforest waste lands and handle carefully all forest lands in order to guarantee the future welfare of our State. 6

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For many years I planted too many species, as in 1907 when eight varieties of broad-leafed, and twelve of conifers were sown, and in 1912 when eighteen varieties of conifers alone were sown. By 1909 all of the first white pines had been given away or used for demonstration in talks on forest planting, or set out in unused open ground, where the largest group is now quite an impressive little wood. At that time close planting was rather advised and the trees were set only four feet apart, too close, I now think, for permanent planting. By 1912 I had three objectives, first the growing of native trees for forest planting to replace poorer species cut out for fuel or other purposes. Second to raise specimen trees of nonnative species for ornamental planting, and third to raise every variety of every species of conifer which would grow in our climate. Seeds of white pine, tulip tree and white and rock oak were gathered on our own land usually, but all other species were purchased from dealers in this country or Europe—from the latter by grammes (3l 2 ounces) the smallest quantity sold by foreign tree seedsmen. In this country conifer seeds were usually purchased by ounces, and- nuts and acorns by the pound. In my opinion there is very urgent necessity for extensive planting of tulip trees, most of the hickories, white, red, and rock oaks in all localities where they formally abounded, but, the)'’ are all too popular with deer as food, to advise any planting of these species in any portion of our State where deer preserves are established. In South Mountain, where there is great difference between night and day temperature, pines give the best results, spruce are very difficult in summers of great humidity, and firs have the most determined objection to living through their first summer, of any species I have ever tried. A new enemy of tree planters has appeared in the propensity of motorists to steal every attractive young tree they see. so planting near much used highways is a risk. Yet, in spite of casualties running from total failure of germination to the utter destruction by deer of entire plantations, I continue to raise trees, hoping in time to see tree planters protected from thieves in automobiles, and from the herds of deer which now roam our mountains. The lure of tree planting is one of the happiest delusions with which gardeners can entertain themselves through the winters, for with spring conies renewed hope that this year we shall escape the mishaps of last year and that this time all of our trees will grow. S