Advantage of Home Niu^series to Proprietors. 243 



I could buy. The result was just what I anticipated. I had a large 

 portion of the most exposed part to re-plant the following spring, but 

 this time it was done with home-reared plants which had no difficulty 

 in establishing themselves, and the last time I saw the plantation it 

 bid fair to completely answer the purpose for which it was planted. 

 The respective seasons were not exceptional for the establishing of 

 young trees, and both plantings received exactly the same treatment. 



Another element which acts injuriously on young trees at this stage 

 is the differently constituted soils, public nurseries being generally 

 composed of good garden mould, containing not less than from 7 

 to 10 per cent, of humous. How will the change from this rich 

 pasture affect their well-being if deported to some of our bare hill- 

 sides, where scarcely any trace of organic matter is to be found ? 

 One characteristic of home-reared plants is, that when planted out 

 they give immediate signs of vigour, and rapidly start into free growth. 

 This, in itself, is a great advantage; as it appears to be the case, that 

 the more stunted a plant is, just in proportion will it be subject to 

 the ravages of ground game, vermin, &c. 



As already stated, the home nursery will also be of great benefit to 

 the proper training of the young forester. What is better calculated 

 to interest him in his business, and give his mind a proper bent, than 

 to see and engage in the active operations of the nursery ? At the 

 outset of his career, habits of carefulness and of watchful observation 

 are insensibly begotten, which otherwise may have been lost to himself 

 and the profession. A good deal is being said at present with reference 

 to Schools of Forestry and the education of foresters. Some propose 

 a course of study the details of which, at first sight, seem calculated 

 to entirely swamp the forester endowed only with ordinary intellect ; 

 but we predict that however much scientific lore may be imparted, if 

 not accompanied with good practical training, it will be found defective 

 in its most essential parts. We have perused, with much interest, 

 Dr. Cleghorn's account of the " Eoyal Forest School of Vallombrosa,"* 

 where not only is theoretic knowledge imparted, bvit also a good sound 

 practical training, such as the management of a nursery, &c. 



Our method of restoring woodlands by artificial planting is adapted 

 to the wants of this country, and is not likely to be superseded by 

 that of natural reproduction, as practised in other countries differently 

 situated ; the rearing of plants in nurseries is, therefore, sure to remain 

 a peculiar feature in British forestry. Although no radical changes 

 are likely to take place in our present methods, yet, we think, if British 

 forestry is ever to advance from that dependent position in which it is 

 now placed and develop into a complete system, we conceive it will 



* " Trans. Scot. Arbor. Soc," vol. viii., p. 182. 



