ON THE ADVANTAGES OF FORMING BELTS OF PLANTATIONS, 339 



fences are the best and most durable. Short sections of stone 

 dykes might, however, be erected in many instances, which would 

 shelter both the newly-formed plantation and the grazing stock at 

 the same time. In erecting the iron and wire fences, care should 

 be taken that the holes in the iron standards are only as large as 

 will allow the wire to be passed through, as, if the holes be larger 

 and the wires have room to play, the constant movement produced 

 by the wind, and consequent friction against the standards, causes 

 the wires to be cut through in six or eight years especially at high 

 altitudes. Both standards and wire should be of a strong descrip- 

 tion, as the snow may gather in heavy wreaths and destroy the 

 whole at a time when the damage cannot be repaired, and the 

 stock thereby have access to, and might destroy the crop in the 

 plantation. 



The best trees for the purpose are the Scots Fir (Pinus sylves- 

 tris), the Austrian Pine (P. auslriaca), the Mountain Pine (P. 

 moiilaua), the Birch (Ueiula alba), and the Mountain Ash (Pyrus 

 Auciiparia), all well-known hardy trees, which, although planted at 

 an altitude of 2000 or 3000 feet, will grow well, and produce the 

 shelter required. At and under 1600 feet elevation the larch and 

 Norway spruce {Abies excelsa) may also be used. The pines on the 

 higher and drier portions of the ground should be mixed with the 

 birch and mountain ash, and the lower belts planted on the same 

 principle, but may have the larch set on the less exposed portions, 

 with spruce and birch mixed in the dampest sections along with 

 the Scots fir. The mountain pine need not be planted at elevations 

 under 1200 feet. The plants at high altitudes, or above 800 feet, 

 and those to be set on exposed promontories or bare margins, should 

 be 1 year 1 year plants of the pines, and the birch and mountain ash 

 6 inches to 9 inches in height. The lower belts, in cases where 

 the herbage is rough, may be planted with 2 year 1 year ; or if at 

 elevations of only a few hundred feet, 2 years 2 years pines and larch 

 may be used, and also plants from 9 to 15 inches of birch and 

 mountain ash. Wherever the surface is broken, birch seeds might 

 advantageously be sown, and a few hazels set in the ground. All 

 should be planted at 2| feet apart, with a view to encourage an 

 early start and produce the desired effect as soon as possible. 



Remarks. — From 5 to 10 per cent, of sheep stock would be 

 saved from suffocation in the snow, by the protection afforded to 

 them by the sheltering plantations; and from 10 to 15, or even 

 20 per cent, of ewes and lambs from death by the evil consequences 



