1884.] PRACTICAL LESSONS FROM JUTLAND. 15 



control operations. These, we have seen, embrace the cultivation 

 and afforestering of the Society's own estates. But this is subordinate 

 to the scientific ]ilanting of the Danish peninsula. For an individual 

 proprietor has only to intimate his wish to re-afforest part of his 

 estate, and the Society's foresters will draw out plans, see througli 

 the initiatory stages the young plantations, besides thereafter making 

 periodic visits of inspection and advice, the proprietor all the while 

 keeping pecuniary matters under his own control. But small owners, 

 other than individuals, may also command the services of the Society. 

 In this latter case even seeds may be given. There are now 243 

 ])lantations so affiliated with the Society, embracing an area of over 

 30,000 acres, though perhaps only half of this is actually planted. 



The main difficulty in planting the extensive heaths of Jutland 

 has been from the stratum caused by the decomposing heather, 

 which thus presents a sour acidific soil inimical to tree growth. The 

 best practice has been to cultivate tlie heath, if possible, before 

 planting. It may be ploughed, and after lying fallow for two or 

 three years, it may be top-dressed with marl, and one or two crops 

 of corn grown. If the heatlier stratum contains two or three inches 

 of a cohesive peat-like mass, then surface-plough, burn in furrows, 

 plough in the ashes, and grow one or two crops of rye on it. 

 Another method, styled the coiul) on ridge culture, is also used. 

 The ploughed surface of the heath is allowed to lie for two or three 

 years, when it is again ploughed and harrowed ; so that its soil, now 

 crumbly and aerated, is heaped in ridges which are planted. But as 

 neitlier marl nor fire has been used, even in land so treated the 

 heather may afterwards spring up, and stop the growth of tirs, 

 mountain pines should be also planted \\\i\\ them. The subsoil of 

 the lieath should always be broken up to the depth of from 1\ to 

 Ig feet. The injurious influence of this heather stratum, whether 

 on a circular or foliferous tree, has been a crowning result of the 

 Society's exertions It is indeed the key to the causes of non-success 

 attending previous planting operations in Jutland, and we may add 

 greatly also in our own country. The upper part of it, generally 

 from one-third to half a foot thick, containing partly living, partly 

 dead organisms inducing humic and tannic acids, which require to 

 be removed ere tree gr-owth can be vigorous. To counteract this, a 

 proper selection of trees is partly made. 



Thus, as a rule, only trees with acicular leaves thrive ou the 

 heaths. Under these are included Norway spruce (Picea excelsa), 

 mountain pine (I'inus montana'), with sheltering belts of white 

 .spruce (Picea alba) and mountain spruce (Pinus montana). On 

 lietter soil, the silver fir (Abies pectinata) also thrives, as probably 

 the Scotch fir (Pinus sylvestris), though not the common German fir. 



