NEEDLE-CAST. 693 



fibrous rootlets during transplanting, and by using transplants 

 with balls of earth round their roots. 



7. Conclusion. 



From the above, it is evident that the two varieties of the 

 needle-cast disease may be treated similarly. Needle-cast, 

 owing to the fungus, would indeed be favoured by some of the 

 rules given under (a) and (I) ; for instance, reproduction under 

 shelter, and manuring and covering with Scots pine-branches. 



Two other methods of protection have recently been sug- 

 gested, but Hess has no experience of his own regarding their 

 efficacy. They are as follows : 



i. One or 2-year-old plants may be carefully dug up at 

 the end of September or beginning of October, when they 

 have assumed their normal winter colour, and placed in rows 

 in a bed of loose earth raised 27 to 30 inches from the ground, 

 and then covered loosely with a few dead leaves. The plants 

 will be green and in good order for planting in the spring, 

 when other plants left in the nursery-beds have become 

 quite red. 



ii. According to the other method, trenches are dug 24 to 

 27 inches broad, and 30 to 40 inches deep, and the plants 

 placed in rows at the bottom of the trench with earth between 

 the rows, either in autumn or in early spring. Sticks are 

 placed across the top of the trench at distances of 6 to 8 

 inches, which are then covered with branches of Scots pine, or 

 of silver-fir. Spruce branches will not do, as the needles drop 

 off too readily. The density of the covering must be regulated 

 according to the state of the weather, and it should be denser 

 when there is a considerable range of temperature between 

 the day and night in the spring. In case of prolonged drought 

 the plants should be lightly sprinkled with water. 



This method has been followed with advantage in certain 

 forest ranges in Prussia. A trench 10 feet long will contain 

 about 5,000 1 to 2-year-old pine-seedlings. It has not, 

 however, always proved successful, and it is doubtful whether 

 trenching plants in autumn may not be prejudicial. More 

 experience is necessary before it can be confidently 

 recommended. 



