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A FOREST PLANTING
IN MICHIGAN
PAUL B. HAINES

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LIBRARY

ichigan State
University

 

 
THESIS.
A FOREST PLANTING IN MICHIGAN.
by
Paul B. Haines.
1914
le

The land planted comprised part of the Orchard Bay Farm
owned by Edward C. Waller, 705 “The Rookery", Chicago, Ill.
and located in Sec. 13- 7.34 N.- R. 8 W. Charlevoix, Mich.
The area consists of numerous small sand dunes, lying parale
lel to the shore of Lake Michigan and about one quarter of
a mile distant. They are moving only slightly in a few expo-
sed portions.

The soil is a light sand, deep and quite free from or-
ganic matter, except in the ravines or pockets, where there
is from four to ten inches of loam. The exeess water drains
into the lake but along the two temporary brooks that cross
the plantation wet patches occur. These now grow willow, but

originally grew fine cedar and for that reason pine was
not planted where it was very moist.

With the exception of the higher knolls the cover was
fairly heavy, consisting of brush , under six inches in diae-
meter and twenty five feet high, of the following species:

Poplarecsocseseesese 40%

Pin Cherry eeoeeeeee0 250%

Paper Bircneccccccece

Willow. ccccsesessesee) 10%

OtherBeccccccvccscces
Ferns formed a light ground cover over the entire area,Red
Raspberries also a light cover in places, with some grass in
the more favored places. The latter had been grazed by sheep
which were pastured on the land for several years past. In

addition to the above vegetation old stumps averaged eighteen
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PLATE 1.

 

 

Typical View.

Showing character of the land planted.
Le

or twenty ta the acre, while the more numerous decaying

logs averaged from twenty-five to thirty. The remaines of

the original timber indicated that it consisted of hemlock
with a little red pine and cedar and balsam on the wet areas.

The planting stock was five year old white pine once
transplanted, purchased from the Mich. Agr. College. The
plants were tied in bundles of twenty-five each, puddled
packed with moist hay in a box car. They arrived at Charle-
evoix, after five days on the road, in first class condite
ion. Heating however had started to take place but the car
was unloaded before any damage had resulted.

In hauling the trees to the scene of planting a hay-
rigging was used. This outfit permitted an average load of
4,250 trees, yet more could be hauled over hard ground with
no difficulty. In this case the haul was three miles over a
good gravel road, but terminated with a stretch of soft
pasture slightly frozen. Over this haul four trips a day
was the average.

Three situations were chosen upon which to heel-in
the stock. Theu were located close to water, where the dig-
ging was good, and so that they were accessable from any
part of the area that was to be planted. As fast as the trees
were unloaded from the wagon they were puddled and heeled-
in.

In planting twa men crews were used entirely; one man
digging the holes, with a round pointed shovel, the other

planting and carrying the trees along as the work progress-
we
PLATE 11.

 

 

A Particularly Large Bare Dune.

Showing trees heeled-in in the fore ground.
ed..The holes were dug deep enough to permit the trees being
set at their original depth as they grew in the nursery,

and wide enough so that the roots could be well spread out.
The men were instructed to put a thin layer of good soil
over the roots and press it down well with the feet. The
hole was then filled up and further pressed down in the

same manner. At first the hands and feet were used to fill
in the holes, but later short handled hoes were substituted.

Brush and other obstructions hindered the men and the
best results were obtained by keeping the crews seperated.
To accomplish this end a line of pickets was run for every
ninth row, and planted up a little in advance of the inter-
mediate rows. By working out from both sides of these guide
rows the crews were seperated and the work kept straight.

In distributing the trees from the beds where they
were heeled-in a sled was devised. The dimensions of the
same are shown on page (4); also see plate 1V, for photo.
This rig would hold about twenty-five bundles of trees, the
box being narrower than the width between the runners to
prevent its being torn off by collision with trees. As the
trees were taken from the bed, they were dipped in a half
barrel of water. It would have been better to havé puddled
the roots ina solution of clay but as this substance was
very scarce, water alone was used. One man was kept very
busy at this job, (hauling, dipping. and carrying the bundles

to the crews) when there were fourteen men, or seven crews at
PLATE 111.

 

A Planting Crew At Work.
Sled

Fige 1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PLATE 1V.

 

 

Distributing Sled In Operation.

Showing also the character of the land planted.
work. A few roadways had to be brushed out in order to haul
the trees close to the scene of planting. After these were
abandoned they were planted up.

In order that hte work from day to day can be followed
a brief feport, taken from the field diary, is here inserted.

Mone April 6, 1914.
Weather; Snowing with one inch on the ground in the morning,
abating before noon.
Employed three men in the forenoon, six in the afternoon.
One team and a single horse all day.
Hauled, puddled and healedein three loads of trees.

Tues. April 7, 1914.

Weather; Ground frozen an inch or more. Frequent snow
flurries.
Employed three men one half day, two men total time of six
and one half hours. One herse full time and two teams for
one half day.
Finished healing-in the 33,975 trees by two thirty P.M.

For six days the weather was such that it was impos-
sible to piant.

Mon. April 13, 1914.
Weather; Clear, warm and calm.
Employed seven men and one horse all day.
Frost in the ground in many places made planting difficult.
Total number of trees planted, 1475.

Tues. April 14, 1914.

Weather; Fair, warm and calm.
3
6.

Employed fourteen men and one horse full day.
Bothered by frost in many places. Worked fourteen men plante
ing and hauled the trees myself. Planted, 2925.
Wed. April 15, 1914.
Weather; Clear warm and calm.
Employed thirteen men and a single horse.
Used one men to haul trees and deliver them to the crews.
Also equipped the men with short handled hoes. The ground
was frozen only in sheltered spots. Planted, 3,125 trees.
Thur. April 16, 1914.
Weather; Warm and clear.
Employed thirteen men all day tand two men one half day, also
used the single horse.
Worked on hilly land free from frost and where the digging
was easy. Total number of trees planted, 3,500.
Fri. April 17, 1914.
Weather; Clear, warm and calm.
Employed fifteen men and single horse for full day.
Total trees planted, 3,825.
Sat. April 18, 1914.
Weather; Fair and warm.
Employed fifteen men and horse full day and one man one
half day.
Planted on a good site using short rows, Total planted ,4, 300
Mon. April 20, 1914.
Weather; Wind N. clowdy and freezing, ground covered with
three quarters of an inch of snow.

Employed thirteen men amd horse all day and one man one half
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day. Four of the men were new hands.
The weather was clear and warmer in the afternoon.
Total number of trees planted, 4, 300.
Tues. April 21, 1914.
Weather; Cool and clowdy.
Employed eleven men and one horse for full day.
Total number of trees planted., 3,050.
Wed. April 22, 1914.
Weather; Fair, cool and windy.
The results of this day are the same as the previous.
Thur. April 23, 1914.
Weather; Clady with traces of rain.
Employed eleven men and one horse for full day.
Total number of trees planted 3,275.
Fri. April 24, 1914.
Weather; Cloudy and cool.
Employed five men and single horse three quarters of a day.
Planted 850 trees which completed the work.

The length of a working day was supposed to be ten
hours, but fourty minutes was consumed each day walking back
and forth to the scene of planting. Also an extra quarter of
an hour was taken at noon, which allowed some of the men to
go home for dinner.

In making the following computations these costs are
used: teams alone, $2.00 and single horse $1.00 per. day.
Men, including teamsters $1.75 per. day.
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Total cost on the land ready to plant.
Preight B35 OFccccccccccccccvsccccccccccescepere Me $1.05
Hauling three miles, 87 -50cccsccccsccccsccee © * $0.28
Puddling & healing=in, $15 -40cccccsececccsee © “~ $0045

Cost of 33,975 trees, $300.00c......eeeeee-- ™ OM 98.83
TOCTALecccceccsecccccscscssccrsessesescecsssecee” ° $10.61

Planting Averages.
Number planted pere Gay p@re MANeoccccecvesc eel de

Time required to plant 1.000 (two men)....Two days.

Planting Costs.
Cost of labor tO planteccecccccccccsccscscccep@re Me $7200
Cost to plant per. acre (spacing 6 by b)eccccreesee SOeR1
Cost of supervision and overseeing, $56075..spers Me $1.72

Summary of Time and Costs.
Time required to plant 33,975 trees (15 men)ecc.ce.e9 days.
Number of acres planted (approximately) ecececece sce r2deahe

Total COBLccvccccccecccccassccscsceccccesescsccscs ec eG025e20

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per. acre including trees...cpacccccees - $22.13.
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PLATE V.

 

 

A Planted Sand Dune.
 
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