Periodical Literature 511 



The highest temperature is found on the yearly raked, the lowest 

 on the unraked area. The largest humus and nitrogen contents are 

 found in the latter, contrary to Ramann's finding, probably due to 

 presence of mosses. 



The increment conditions are as one would expect, except that 

 the average basal area increment per cent of the 5-year area was 

 found .1 per cent higher than the unraked area; no reason being 

 assigned. 



Bodenuntersuchungen iiber die Rotbuchenstreuversuchsfldchen im Forstbezirk 

 Philippsburg in Baden. Allgemeine Forst- und Jagdzeitung, February, 1916, 

 pp. 41-2. 



SILVICULTURE, PROTECTION AND EXTENSION 



In Central France, the altitude of the 

 M^zenc Mezenc region is between 1400 and 1750 



Forestation meters (4593.16 to 5741.45 feet) with slopes 



Difficulties up to 50 per cent. The soil is quite easily 



eroded and the climate is severe, the snow 

 remaining on the ground more than six months with dangerous 

 spring and fall frosts. The winds are particularly violent, espe- 

 cially at the higher altitudes and near the passes. The soil is 

 rocky, gravelly, porous, and easily dried out. 



Paul Buffault gives an interesting account of the history of 

 forestation in this region that is illustrative of the difficulties the 

 French have had to contend with in their mountain forestation 

 work. 



Historically, six periods of forestation activity are distinguished: 



1. From 1863 to 1877, was an experimental period during which 

 Avidely spaced plantations of fir and beech planted in the open 

 without any cover except heather and bilberry were failures 

 because the species planted were not sufficiently protected under 

 such rigorous climatic conditions. Scotch pine (from Haguenau) , 

 and Austrian pine sown at altitudes between 1500 and 1600 meters 

 (4921.2 to 5249.3 feet) did not succeed. In 1882, there was 

 hardly a trace of this work which had been executed on 460 hec- 

 tares (1 136.6 acres). The lack of success in the sowing was attrib- 

 uted chiefly to drying out of the soil, to frost and to weeds. 



2. From 1878 to 1884, seed spots were tried and the bilberry 

 and heather were left close to the plants as a protection. Cembra 



