STATE FORESTS OF PRUSSIA.: 141 
- At present the forest of Oerrel, near Lintzel, visited by the 
Society, embraces 11,565 acres. The plan of afforestation was 
started in 1876 with the purchase of two estates which were found 
to be unsuitable for agriculture, and the area has since been 
extended by purchase as opportunity offered. The total purchase- 
money expended up to date amounts to £40,200, from which may 
be deducted £6778 as the value of buildings, and £3150 as the 
value of the growing timber, leaving £30,272 as the price of the 
land alone, which is equal to about £2, 12s. per acre. 
In the spring of 1878, the work of planting was energetically 
pushed forward, so that the oldest woods are now seventeen years 
old. It was found that the ground could be best prepared for 
planting by subjecting it to subsoil ploughing,—16 to 24 inches deep. 
This work, however, was done in narrow parallel stripes (83 feet 
ploughed, and 4} feet left undisturbed), an arrangement which 
saved money, prevented the formation of sand-drifts, and secured 
good aeration of the soil. Part of the work was accomplished by 
Fowler’s steam-plough, but most of it by horse labour,—two to 
four horses being yoked in the first plough, and four to six in the 
subsoiler. The number of horses depended on the presence or 
absence of a moor-pan, which, however, did not occur on more than 
1 per cent. of the tatal area. 
The sandy-loamy. nature of the soil did not offer any great 
difficulties to the successful preparation of the land, the main 
objects kept-in view being the thorough mixing of the peaty 
superficial deposits with the stronger soil below, and the bringing 
up to the surface ‘of plant food that had been washed down 
beyond the reach of the young trees. Land that had at one time 
been arable was usually prepared for tree-planting by a shallow 
ploughing, followed by a crop of buckwheat, after which the 
young trees were planted on the stubble. Besides these two 
methods of surface preparation, other plans were tried, but it has 
been found that the:trees have invariably grown best where the 
land was deeply stirred and well worked. 
Of the total area under ‘wood, 80 per cent. has been established 
by planting and 20 per cent. by seeding. 
Situated as the afforestation works are in a thinly-populated 
district, it soon became evident that the local supply of labour 
would be insufficient. This difficulty has been partly got over by 
the importation of fourteen families, who have been given a small 
area on which to spend their spare time in raising farm:and 
garden crops. But the chief labour supply is derivable from a 
prison which has been erected at Oerrel, and which is capable 
of containing 150 inmates. The price paid to the prison 
authorities for such labour is 1s. per head per day in summer, 
and 9d. per day-in winter,—piecework at trenching, road-making, 
