2 8 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



crop. On the other hand, much of the forest area is on valu- 

 able land which should really be producing foodstuffs, but 

 obviously such forests cannot be replaced until their loss has 

 been balanced by the afforestation of the poorer areas. This 

 work of afforestation has, as has been already mentioned, a 

 prominent place in the policy of the Departement des Eaux et 

 Forets, and the present Conservator, Col. Carmantraud, is 

 energetically carrying it out. 



Types of Forest. 

 The various woods visited may be discussed under the 

 following heads : — 



A. — Scots Pine used as a first crop on poor ground. 

 B. — Silver Fir introduced under Scots Pine. 

 C. — Silver Fir of Primeval Forest, treated under 

 (i) Primitive Selection System, 

 (ii) Improved Selection Methods. 

 D. — Other Species. 



A. — Scots Pine as First Crop. 



In the afforestation of moorland areas, the hardy character 

 of this species is invaluable, and large stocks have been 

 produced in the State forest nurseries at Royat and Fournols 

 for the use of communes and private owners, who get plants 

 free except for the cost of packing and carriage. It is usually 

 planted out as a 2-year plant, and in the 6o-year stands 

 studied in the Chez Paris Serie of the Foret d'Herment and 

 also in the communal (sectional) forests of Lastic and St Germain 

 d'Herment, it showed a good straight clean pole stem of 20-22 

 metres in height, thus producing pit-wood which has a ready 

 market in the mines of the Nord, the prices being at present 

 60 centimes per metre length for pit-wood of 15-18 cm. diameter, 

 and 90 centimes for more than 18 cm. diameter. The thinnings 

 are generally worked on a lo-year cycle, and the average wood 

 yields 4-5 cubic metres per hectare per year of thinnings, the 

 standing crop at 60 years being 400-500 cub. metres per hectare. 

 The Scots pine is thus a valuable crop, but the objection to it 

 lies in the fact that its seed production in this area is so poor that 

 natural regeneration cannot be depended on. It is, therefore, being 

 replaced by other species which provide a seed supply more 

 suitable to the conditions, such as silver fir and spruce, which 



