MANAGEMENT OF SCOTS FIR FORESTS IN NORTH GERMANY, 193 
with is probably the rough grass, which rapidly grows over the 
opened furrows, and often smothers up the seedlings before they 
can get their heads above it. To provide plants for beating up 
such places, small nurseries are usually established at the time of 
sowing by enclosing a small piece of ground with rough wooden 
hurdles, or a fence about 5 feet in height, so that deer, etc., are 
excluded. These fences are made from Scots fir thinnings, about 
2 inches in diameter, with stronger poles for posts, and cost about 
3d. per yard. If the nursery is likely to be required for several 
years, and serve for several successive fellings, a more durable 
fence of split fir poles of a larger diameter is erected, and costing 
about 5d. per yard. Branches of pine or spruce are interwoven 
through the lower bars to exclude hares and rabbits where they 
exist. The ground in these enclosures is trenched, and all roots 
and stones thrown out, and then sown with Scots fir or other species 
as required. The seed is generally sown here in shallow drills 
made by a kind of rake with broad thin iron teeth, which is drawn 
lightly over the surface. The seedlings are usually transplanted 
the first year, either into rows in the nursery or into the gaps in 
the re-sown area. For the former work an ingenious machine is 
sometimes used, which is well adapted for the light sandy soil. 
In appearance it resembles a small handcart without the body, the 
wheels and handle only being present. On the axle is a seat for 
the workman, who sits facing the handle, the latter being supported 
by a leg with a broad wooden foot. From the centre of the handle 
falls a short iron bar, on which is suspended a long horizontal iron 
rod, the extremities of which are bent down at right angles. On 
these two extremities are hung the handles of a broad species of 
scoop with a toothed cutting edge. The handles being suspended 
at a point about their centre, the ends are within a convenient 
distance of the workman, who, by lowering or raising them, can lift 
or dig the scoop into the ground with ease, while the soil can be 
drawn towards him or pushed in the opposite direction, by similarly 
working the handles. By this means he can take out a trench 
about 3 feet in length and about 6 inches deep, with a_per- 
fectly perpendicular side, in three or four strokes of the scoop. 
T'wo women are employed putting in the plants, which are placed 
on wooden bars of the same length as the trench. These bars have 
a toothed zinc edge, between the teeth of which the plants are 
hung, so that their tops are above and their roots below the edge. 
The bar is then placed on the edge of the trench, so that the roots 
