AMOUNT OF LITTER PRODUCED. 



769 



It is evident that, when the litter is allowed to accumulate in 

 a forest for several years, the supply is greater than that pro- 

 duced annually. At the same time the accumulation is 

 limited, as the lower layers are constantly decomposing and 

 only the upper layers are available for litter. In this respect 

 investigation has led to the adoption of the following average 

 figures per acre : 



A cubic meter (35*3 cubic feet) of air-dried litter (15 to 20 

 per cent, water) well compressed is of the following weight : 



Beech 

 Spruce 

 Scots pine 

 Moss-litter 



Kilos. 

 81-5 

 168-4 

 117-3 

 104-0 



Lbs. per 

 cubic foot. 



5 



10-5 

 7-3 

 6-5 



Hence the yield of litter may be calculated in stacked cubic 

 meters or in waggon-loads per acre (as in the following state- 

 ment) as waggons drawn by two horses usually carry 5 stacked 

 cubic meters (176*5 cubic feet) of litter: 



One year's supply 

 Six years' ,, 



Beech. 



. 10 

 , 20 



Scots Pine. 



6 

 16 



Spruce. 



4 

 11 



2. Moss-Litter. 



The forest is the home of most mosses, especially of the 

 larger species, which may be used for litter. The growth of 

 moss depends generally on the presence of damp soil and air, 

 and a certain amount of cover. Only a few mosses can stand 

 full exposure to light. Some kinds of forest mosses form 

 large tufts only exceptionally, whilst other gregarious mosses 



F.U. 3 D 



