A VISIT TO GERMAN FORESTS. 425 



management of forest lands. During the summer, one of the 

 professors drew up a working plan which will regulate opera- 

 tions, in the woods specified in the report, for a period of twenty 

 years. When forest treatment is the theme of the excursion, the 

 students have explained to them on the ground the manner of 

 the wood's formation, its subsequent management, the lessons to 

 be gained from its present condition, and the plans which are laid 

 for its future control. To listen to class-room lectures in the hot 

 sunny afternoons of June and July would have been intolerable, 

 quite apart from the fact that practical demonstration is only 

 possible within the forest. Such a method of teaching is un- 

 doubtedly the more perfect, because, in addition to its other 

 advantages, it is so pleasing. 



These excursions are not so frequent as to seriously interfere 

 with the time of a student who wishes to privately investigate 

 the surrounding forests. That work occupied the most of my 

 time, for it will be admitted that to attempt to familiarise oneself 

 with the 40,000 acres of State woods round Eberswalde is no 

 light task. 



The beginning of April, when I arrived in Eberswalde, is a 

 busy season in Germany, for a commencement is then made with 

 planting and sowing operations. Much of the forest soil near 

 Eberswalde being of medium quality and free from a rank growth 

 of weeds, is well suited to the direct sowing of coniferous seeds; 

 but the planting of nursery stock obtains quite as commonly, 

 being largely employed on the poorer soils. In the case of 

 Scots pine, which is the prevailing tree of the district, seedlings 

 are used in preference to older transplants, the latter coming in 

 more for purposes of "beating up." To see the various methods 

 of planting, which are widely different from those in vogue in 

 Britain, and to handle the tools, is in itself an education. The 

 large nurseries are very fine, and well repay a study of their 

 detailed working; they are especially interesting during April 

 and May. A seed-kiln of recent design, and a fish-hatchery, may 

 be mentioned as adding to the instructive features of Eberswalde. 



Closely surrounding the town are woods managed on the so- 

 called Selection System. By this system individual stems or 

 groups of trees are " selected " when mature, felled, and their places 

 filled by planting or sowing. The method adopted in Ebers- 

 walde is to clear small areas not exceeding 120 feet in diameter, 

 and to restock with the species indicated by the soil and situa- 



