GERMAN FORESTRY. 139 



Beech, oak, ash, and other broad-leaved trees are found 

 all over the country in parts where there is sufficient fertility 

 for them, but more especially in the west. Larch, on the other 

 hand, is practically confined to the south-east of the Empire and 

 the more alpine parts, where alone it obtains the conditions 

 that suit it, namely, a hot, bright summer, an intensely cold 

 winter, and a rapid change from winter into summer. 



The species of trees grown in Germany are, of course, just the 

 same as those which we have most commonly in Britain. 

 Conifers predominate, occupying about 65 per cent, of the forest 

 area. Amongst them our familiar Scots pine or Scots fir takes 

 the first place. 



Scots Pine. 



This tree is regenerated in three distinct ways. The forest 

 may be clear-felled, and either planted with small plants, or sown 

 in strips by hand ; or, instead of clearing the ground, about 

 one-third of the trees may be left to cast seed on the area and 

 produce a natural crop. By the last-mentioned system, the 

 parent trees are removed within about five years after seedlings 

 begin to appear. Such regeneration is an economy to a certain 

 extent, but the young crop is decidedly irregular, and the practice, 

 though once common, is now rarely adopted. 



When seed is sown by hand, furrows are made with the forest 

 plough. On the prepared ground, seed to the quantity of about 

 four pounds per acre is sown, and lightly raked into the soil. 

 The furrows are made about 3i- feet apart, and each is fully 

 I foot broad. - 



Owing to the cheapness and speed of the method, sowing 

 is very often resorted to on medium-quality soil in level country, 

 but both the seed and the tiny plants coming from the seed are 

 exposed to many dangers. So it has come about that planting 

 is more commonly adopted. In North Germany quite small 

 seedlings are preferred to transplants. They are generally 

 planted by means of a special spade or " piercer," which enables 

 the roots to go straight down into the soil, so that the young 

 trees, not having their roots contracted or bent to one side, 

 develop naturally and resist drought. The young woods are not 

 thinned till they are fully twenty years old. As a great many 

 trees occupy the ground — a much greater number than can 

 possibly exist — a struggle takes place in which only the more 

 robust succeed. During the struggle, the light is confined to the 



