142 



by the appointineut of a professional forester and by the establish meut 

 of nurseries of forest-trees. Of these, two were established at Mount 

 Sermin, and oue at Gortz for deciduous trees, and one at Eodik, 1,000 

 feet above sea-level, for conifers. These nurseries have furnished an 

 ample supply not only for the karst, but also for ])ortions of the Crown 

 lands in other regions. Their production during four years was as 

 follows : 



These trees were furnished to the royal foresters superintending dif- 

 ferent sections of the Crown lands, and sold at cost to individuals and 

 communities applying for them. They are also furnished gratis to pri- 

 vate parties who promise to use them for public benefit. Two and a half 

 million of trees have already been set out, and the demand trauvscends 

 the supply. All the Crown lands have applied for trees and for instruc- 

 tion in replanting. 



The coast-nurseries are best for deciduous trees, giving them a longer 

 season of growth without risk of injury from the winter. Many sorts 

 make a growth sufficiently rapid to plant the second year. Locusts 

 average in one year a height of 3 feet ; rock maples, 1 foot ; ashes, lin- 

 dens, and elms, from G inches to a foot ; fruit-trees, from 1 to 3 feet, with 

 ■well-developed roots. Deciduous trees are more vigorous than conifers, 

 especially in the Karst, where the bora and sirocco prevail. They are 

 also less liable to injury from pasturing and from fire. 



Among deciduous trees the oak, the elm, and the ash have been found 

 to be the most vigorous growers ; among conifers the Austrian pine is 

 the most eligible. The latter, though an excellent shelter and timber 

 tree, is not a favorite among forest-growers. 



The Karst region, embracing j284,870 acres according to the tax-rolls, 

 is mostly OM'ned by the townships, but a small proportion being in pri- 

 vate hands. The lands are mostly used for pasture, and are closely 

 grazed by the numerous flocks and herds, which furnish almost the sole 

 income of the inhabitants outside of the vine-growing districts of Gortz 

 and Yolusca. The Austrian pine having been found unfavorable to the 

 growth of grass, the people of the Karst have conceived a special aver- 

 sion to it. In 1872 several townships taxed themselves to re-aflbrest 

 their lands, but stipulated that only ash-trees should be planted. Tliey 

 stated that they could not wait eighty years for the Austrian pine. 

 They received 70,000 ash-trees, not one of which appears to have died. 

 The pine and larch [Ahies pectinata and Larix Europoea) have proved to 

 be well adapted to the higher regions, within the zone of the red beech, 

 ranging from 1,800 to 4,000 feet above sea-level. Below these limits the 

 elm and flowering-ash seem to combine the qualities that enable them to 

 resist both storm and drought. The last named is excellent for vine- 

 poles and wagon-timber, but its leaves are inferior to those of the com- 

 mon ash for fodder, inasmuch as they contain too much tannin for 

 cattle. The ailanthus was almost a total failure, but the box- maple 

 {Acer ncguiido) and the Canadian poplar have succeeded very well. 

 From 50,000 to G0,000 mulberry and fruit trees have been distributed 

 ■with excellent results. 



