RE-PLANTING FORESTS LIME-STONE FORMATION. 211 



after that period the pines slowly dwindle away. How- 

 ever, if the growing period be properly used, the restora- 

 tion of the soil may be so far completed as to begin the 

 cultivation of the beech. With an eye to this object, 

 the plantation of the pines should be considered as a 

 transitory one, and so arranged as to protect the poor 

 soil against the scorching sun-rays, and other attacks 

 made by the elements upon the ground. The larch, if 

 intermixed with pines, has proven a great help for im- 

 proving the soil, this tree being the only coniferous tree 

 which drops every year its leaves, and thus furnishes 

 more material for the formation of a new humus soil 

 than the evergreens. Under all circumstances the lime- 

 stone soil may hopefully be considered reclaimed as soon 

 as the pine has gained a foothold upon it. After that, 

 it is easy to plant there beeches and oaks, and other 

 valuable forest-trees. 



Should it, for financial or commercial reasons, be con- 

 sidered not advisable to raise pure stock, intermixing 

 pines and larches with beeches can be recommended, as 

 these trees agree very well with each other. But we 

 must avoid to employ here the spruce, on account of its 

 being inclined to encroach upon the growth of neigh- 

 boring trees. However, we should always bear in mind, 

 that the limestone mountains are the natural home of 

 the beech and, therefore, endeavor to keep, wherever 

 possible pure stock of beeches, this being the only means 

 to increase, by degrees, the fertility of this questionable 

 soil. After the soil having, by continued cultivation of 

 the beech, fully recovered its fertility, it is easy, if 

 wanted, to raise among the beeches other valuable forest- 

 trees, as, for instance, spruce, larch, and ash. 



The mode of cultivating trees on limestone moun- 

 tains is the same as upon sandstone mountains, but the 

 directions given under the chapter of regulating moun- 



