ON THE CORSICAN FIE. 2o.> 



away. When the young plants make their appearance, the 

 stems around must be felled as soon as possible, for they cannot 

 bear the shade of the parent trees. 



Natural reproduction not being generally practised in Scotland,, 

 this method will probably find little application ; but for very 

 shallow and stony surface-soil, that might easily be washed 

 away, or speedily made utterly barren if altogether denuded, it 

 cannot be too strongly reconnnended. 



(3.) By the method known in Germany as "FchmeW "Planter" 

 or " Schleichbetricb," and in France as " Jar (linage." 



Here and there, throughout the Avliole, trees are cut down 

 singly or in groups, and nature is generally left to repair the 

 damage as best she can. This should only in Scotland be applied 

 on very exposed situations. 



The artificial reproduction, or the cultivation of the fir for the 

 first time, may take place either by sowing or by planting. 



(1.) Sowing. 



On the poorer or exposed loamy (limy), sandy, and limy soils, 

 where the Corsican fir will generally be reared, sowing will fre- 

 quently be found not to answer as well as planting, for it is just 

 during the first year or two that the young plants are exposed 

 to most dangers. 



If, on hill-sides, about 7 or 8 lbs. of seed is often sown in 

 horizontal rills of 3 to 4 inches breadth and depth, which da 

 not, however, form continuous lines -p^^^ g 



aloncj the hill (fig. 3); the distance , il— ____» 



between the parallel rills is usually 4' i' 4' V ■. 4' 



3 to 4 feet, their length in a hori- ^, ^, J' 



zontal direction about 4 feet, with 1 ^™^— ...m™™ 



foot of space between each two. 3/; 



When there is danger of grass, &c., i' !'__£_ i ' '■. 4' 



overshadowing and choking the yoimg ^"^^^ • • • • ■ ^^■■■" 



plants, broader bands are cleared, the breadth varying according 

 to the magnitude of the danger. The seed needs but little 

 covering with earth. 



Another method, applied when the soil is stiJl well provided 

 wdth turf, is to sow about 12 lbs. of seed per acre broadcast, and 

 go over it with the harrow. 



It is more than probable that the seed may at places be washed 

 away, or the young plants here and there die, but if such damage 

 be not of too great extent the recruiting may be done by means 

 of seedlings taken from the parts where most plants stand. This 

 will be less expensive than bringing the material from a distance. 



(2.) Planting. 



Planting will in g-eneral be found to succeed better than 

 sowing, and, on the whole, not much more expensive if cheap 

 methods of planting be adopted. The operations ought to le 



