A VISIT TO GERMAN FORESTS. 



435 



maintained by means of beech. In the practical attainment of 

 this purpose there are important modifications according to situa- 

 tion, past management, forest rights, etc.; but the general treat- 

 ment may be said to be as follows : — Woods about to be exploited 

 are gradually more and more heavily thinned, so that there may 

 not be too much "raw humus," whose acid properties would be 



fHE SPESSART. 



prejudicial to a young crop. This preparation of the soil usually 

 takes about ten or twelve years, when, should a " seed year " 

 of the oak occur, it is taken advantage of to get the area sown by 

 natural means. But should the seeding fail or be incomplete, 

 narrow parallel strips are cultivated, acorns sown, and the few 

 trees left from the old crop are removed by degrees, until, at about 

 the fifth year, none of them remain. A sufficiency of beech plants 



VOL. XVI. PART III. 2 G 



