174 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



excessively loose, dry, or poor soils ; those subject to 

 be overrun by a heavy growth of weeds, or where frost- 

 lifting may be expected. Similarly, planting is far 

 preferable to direct sowing where extremes of climate 

 prevail, such as in raw, frosty, exposed localities. 



On steep slopes planting is also preferable, but in 

 very stony soil direct sowing may become a necessity. 



5. External Dangers. 



Seeds, as well as young seedlings, are subject to 

 attacks by various animals, against which they can be 

 more effectually protected in a nursery than in the 

 forest ; hence, on this account, planting is preferable to 

 direct sowing. As regards attacks by insects, it is an 

 open question which of the two methods is preferable. 

 As long as only thoroughly healthy plants are used and 

 put out with care, they may hold their own and even 

 do better than seedlings in direct sowings ; but weak 

 plants, or those which have difficulty in establishing 

 themselves quickly in their new home, are more subject 

 to attacks by insects than seedlings grown in situ. The 

 same often holds good as regards attacks by fungi. 



6. Labour. 



Unless direct sowings necessitate a thorough working 

 of the soil, they require less labour than planting. 

 Where labour is scarce direct sowing may, therefore, 

 prove to be cheaper. Planting also requires better 

 skilled labour than direct sowing. 



