P van Rijckevorsel wrote:
(Rasmus D. Andersen) writes:

I need some help translating a Danish word into English. The word

describes a kind of planting-technique we use to protect the new, small
plants from predators, drought and spring frost. In the same hole as you
plant the valuable future tree species you put a less valuabel and more
resistant species, the "mantle" (e.g. picea or pinus!). The idea is that the
resistant species will grow up to cover the future species and hereby
protect it from the harsh condition on a bare land. Over time the future
species will take over and "outgrow" the mantle. We call this method
"mantle-planting" (direct translation) but I need to know the right term in
english/american or german if anyone knows! If you got experience or know
about literature on the subject I would be glad to here from you.


Larry Caldwell schreef
Hello, Rasmus.


I'm not sure if there is a specific term in English/American for what you
are describing. In agriculture, a crop planted to give shelter to a more
fragile seed is known as a "nurse crop." Annual ryegrass is a popular
nurse crop, since it dies after one year and does not reseed without
human intervention.

I suppose you could call your practice a plantation using nurse trees.
"Nurse tree" is a forestry term, though I have mostly heard it applied to
a fallen log that provides shelter for seedlings. You would need to
clarify your exact meaning in some way. A "mantle-planting" as you have
described it also seems like perfectly good English. If you are the
author, just describe your term and use it. If you are a translator, add
a footnote.

--
http://home.teleport.com/~larryc


+ + +
I don't know either
"Nurse tree" might do, and is defined by
John A Helms, The dictionary of Forestry (1998) as:
"a tree, group, or crop of trees, shrubs or other plants, either naturally
occurring or introduced, used to nurture, improve survival, or improve the
form of a more desirable tree or crop when young by protecting it from
frost, isolation, wind, or insect attack [...]"

Not sure if I like it. "Companion sapling" / "tree" might also be worth
considering. Maybe try looking up the cultivation of Santalum album which is
always planted with a fast growing companion which also serves as a host.
PvR









Companion planting is an accepted gardening term, though like "nurse
log" it's developed a more narrow common definition. I'm with Larry -
use your own term. It works well. The method itself sounds a bit
counter productive. Do the advantages of "mantle planting" outweigh
the competition?