First Plantings. 39 



at present, and this accounts for the early measures 

 to secure more economical use while distant woods 

 were still plentiful but unavailable. 



While in the 12th and 13th centuries a merely re- 

 strictive and regulative, or else a let-alone policy, 

 "allowing the wood to grow up," prevailed, we find 

 in the 14th century the first beginnings of an attempt 

 at forest extension or recuperation. 



In 1309, Henry VII ordered the reforestation of a 

 certain stripped area by sowing. Of the execution 

 of this order we have no record, but the first actually 

 executed plantation on record is that by the city of 

 Nuremberg, in 1368, where several hundred acres of 

 burned area were sowed with pine, spruce and fir; 

 and there is also a record that in 1449 this crop was 

 harvested. In 1420, the city of Frankfort on the 

 Main followed this example, relying on the Nurem- 

 berg seed dealer, whose correspondence is extant and 

 who was invited to go to Frankfort for advice how 

 to proceed. He sowed densely in order to secure clear 

 boles, but expressed the opinion that the plants could 

 not be transplanted; he also relied on the phases of 

 the moon for his operations. 



The planting of hardwoods seems to have been 

 begun much later; the first reference to it coming 

 from the cloister and city of Seligenstadt, which agreed 

 in 1491 to reforest annually 20 to 30 acres with oak. 



Natural regeneration by coppice was in quite 

 general practice and proved satisfactory enough for 

 fuelwood production. The system of coppice with 

 standards was also frequently practised, the standards, 

 30 or 30 to the acre, being "reserved for the lord." 



