7<D TRANSACTIONS Of ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICUI.TURAL SOCIETY. 



by extracting local seed, and these in every case produced 

 stronger and healthier seedlings. 



General Observations. — It may be expected, as far as can be 

 seen at present, that the sowing operations will be a success 

 on the whole, provided the young plants do not succumb to 

 the heavy growth of weeds which exists. Bracken fern and 

 bramble are the weeds most to be feared, and during the 

 summer in the forest of Brotonne the growth of bracken was 

 partially cut. In my opinion the areas could have been more 

 surely and successfully re-afforested by the planting of strong, 

 good-sized plants that could have withstood the weeds, but the 

 French Forest Authorities desired the area to be sown. As the 

 felling operations proceeded the stumps of the felled trees were 

 barked, and then charred by burning the brushwood in heaps 

 upon them. 



These operations were carried out at the express request of 

 the French Forest Officers with the object of minimising the risk 

 of a rapid increase in the number of pine bark beetle {Hylesinus 

 plniperda) and pine weevil (Hylobius abletis). 



It is of interest to note that in the forest of Rouvray, where 

 the pine bark beetle is a dangerous pest, considerable numbers 

 of the larvae of this insect were destroyed in barking some stumps 

 of trees which had been felled a year previously. At the request 

 of the French about four trees per acre of the old crop were left 

 standing in the Brotonne areas, probably with the idea of assist- 

 ing the sowing by natural seeding. These trees are rapidly 

 being blown down. In connection with this, it may be of 

 interest to record that, for experimental purposes, a small plot 

 without preparation was sown broadcast with pine seed. The 

 result was very unfavourable, there being practically no seedlings 

 to be found on this area. 



Labour. — Prisoner-of-war labour was employed, and the 

 following tasks were done : — 



Barking Stumps (done previous to felling) — 15 to 16 trees 



per man per day. 

 Burning Stumps — 10 to 15 stumps per man per day (includ- 

 ing collecting brushwood, igniting and watching fires). 

 Preparation of Pits — 250 pits per man per day. 

 Sowing — Gang of 20 men did 10,000 pits per day (9 men 

 raking, 3 men stamping, 4 men sowing, and 4 men 

 covering). 



