788 FOREST-LITTER, 



Dead needles, taken alone, are inferior to dead leaves of 

 broadleaved trees, both in their ash-constituents and power of 

 absorbing dung. As, however, there is generally a certain 

 amount of moss with the needles, this increases their value as 

 litter, and hence, a mixture of dead needles and moss is pre- 

 ferred to dead leaves. 



The branches of conifers form a litter very variable in value.* 

 If it contains only the twigs and last year's sappy shoots of the 

 trees, and all woody pieces less than the little finger in thick- 

 ness are excluded carefully, this litter in many districts is 

 considered valuable for stiff soils. It is not used in loose, 

 sandy soils, or when very woody. 



Heather, as well as litter from other weeds, is inferior agri- 

 culturally to the kinds already referred to. It varies, however, 

 in value, according as only the upper half of the plants, or the 

 whole plant is used ; if cut when young, or when old and 

 woody ; in the spring, or the autumn. Sods of heather, includ- 

 ing the roots and hurnus around them, as well as the whole 

 plant, are much more absorptive of dung than the heather 

 alone ; but their removal is never permissible under careful 

 forest management. 



2. Cases where Forest-Litter is Indispensable for Agriculture. 



The condition of agriculture is so variable in different 

 countries, and the intensity with which land is farmed differs so 

 considerably even in one and the same district, that to answer 

 the above question requires a special consideration of each case. 

 The main factors of general application are ; the natural pro- 

 ductiveness of the soil, climate and season, size of farms, 

 density of population and comparative knowledge of agricul- 

 ture by the farmers. If any special case is considered under 

 each of the above heads, a decision may be formed as to the 

 indispensability or otherwise of forest-litter. 



Within certain well-defined limits forest-litter may be con- 

 sidered indispensable to agriculture : in the case of inferior 

 soils and unfavourable climates ; in years of scarcity of straw 

 and fodder ; in over-populated districts where landed pro- 



* Cf. Part II. 



