Periodical Literature. 219 



Afforestation and reforestation of wastes 

 Afforestation will soon become good policy in the United 



of States^ as it is in the older countries. This 



Mossy Wastes. restoration of lands to useful production 



does not refer to mountainous country only, 

 but also to swampy lands or moors in the plain. The methods and 

 results of a rather extensive afforestation which has been in progress 

 for 20 years on the "Grosse Moos" near Murten, Bern, Switzerland, 

 comprising about 18,000 acres, of which 2,500 were planted, are re- 

 ported by Liechtj^, with illustrations. 



The moor was apparently at one time forested, as fossil logs and 

 roots testify. An impenetrable loam subsoil at a depth of from one 

 to six feet, accounts for the formation of the moor. Twenty-five 

 years ago, by the lowering of the level of the two adjoining lakes, 

 this area was drained and made accessible to agricultural cultivation. 

 At the same time the shorelands, to the amount of about 7,000 acres, 

 were laid dry, presenting sand dunes and rocky wastes. Partial re- 

 forestation of the former and entire afforestation of the latter by 

 government and municipalities was decided as necessary. On the 

 moor, it was decided by the cantonal forest department to plant 

 strips of coniferous forest, Scotch Pine, Norway Spruce, and White 

 Pine, Alder being used as nurse — a daring plan considering the site, 

 but by its results proved satisfactory. 



From the start the Spruce showed as thrifty development as on 

 better sites, rapidly covering the ground, suppressing the grass, and 

 forming the best windbreak. Lately the planting is done on balks, 

 formed by plowing together two furrows the year before planting. 



Little damage by frost was experienced, due to the thorough 

 draining. In a 17-year plantation, after the Alder nurse stand had 

 been removed, the Spruce stand was perfectly closed, with a height 

 of 25 to 30 feet, annual leaders sometimes exceeding 3 feet. It is 

 expected from the appearance of older stands that they may satis- 

 factorily grow to telegraph poles and small dimensional material. 



On loose, brown imperfectly decomposed turf the Spruce showed 

 undesirable development, which was corrected, with good effect hith- 

 erto, by application of Kainit and Thomas slag; but it will probably 

 change to deciduous forest (poplar and alder). 



The Scotch Pine, otherwise so adaptive, does not do well on the 

 moor, remaining short and spreading, good for a wind mantle on the 

 outside of the plantations. 



