Picca N'obilis Seedlings. 761 



spoke ill support of the proposal to combine schools of forestry with 

 Hoclischukn iu which other studies were prosecuted, and stated, in 

 reference to the allegation which had been made, that the movement 

 had originated entirely with professors and candidates for professors' 

 chairs, and not with practical foresters, or forest administrators; that the 

 opinion held by him he had found shared by numerous forest officials 

 with whom he had been brought into contact in other lands, and more 

 especially by those of them who had studied at forest academies, a 

 very great majority of whom had spoken of a combination of schools of 

 forestry with the Hocla^cJiulen as a thing demanded by the honourable 

 standing of forest science and of tlie forest service. 



{To he continued.) 



PICEA NOBILTS SEEDLINGS. 



To a question asked by your correspondent Mr. Walton in reference to 

 seed of this Conifer having been grown in open air without protection, T 

 can state that when sojourning in South Devon my usual practice was to 

 sow seed of Abies Boiu/lasii, A. nobilis, &c., in sandy soil properly prepared 

 in spring, making drills 2| in. deep and a foot apart, the seed being sown 

 iu the same way that peas are sown and in equally exposed places. Iu 

 due course the seed germinated, and thousands of seedlings appeared. 

 The only after-care for the first year was keeping the ground clear of 

 weeds. In the second spring, if the plants have made satisfactory pro- 

 gress, have them all very carefully lifted and replanted in good sandy soil 

 about 6 iu. apart and 15 inches from row to row. If skilfully managed 

 many of them will be fit for removal to permanent positions in the third 

 year after sowing. Take precaution that rats or mice do not eat the seed, 

 which they will do if hungry. A sprinkling of powdered resin or red lead 

 on the seed after it is slightly moistened will act as a deterrent. A very 

 slight application of paraffin oil will also answer the same purpose. Where 

 seeds of Coniferas are not plentiful the better way will be to sow in shallow 

 boxes well drained, and in prepared soil, placing them in a cold frame or 

 pit near the glass, carefully attending to the soil being kept in a proper 

 state of moisture. 



In closing, will any of your correspondents inform me if they have 

 raised IVellingtonia gigantea from home-saved seed ? An answer in the 

 affirmative, adding how it has been accomplished, will be interesting to 

 your numerous subscribers, and also to — IIobert Begbie, in " Journal of 

 JJ'orficiiI/ure,'" 



