FORESTRY COMMISSIONER. 107 



seeding. The cuttings are not so large but what the by- 

 standing trees can in an essential degree contribute to re- 

 newal, and, besides, very often 15 to 20 seed trees are 

 left on each 1.22 acre tract. The difficulties which forest 

 culture meets with in this locality are very stony land, 

 spring and summer drought, spring frost, sometimes, as 

 during the previous year, excessive rain, mossy or swampy 

 land and land heavily pastured by cows and sheep. On 

 the other hand, the forest area is not much troubled 

 with heath, strong growth of grass, insects, etc. In re- 

 gard to sowing, the twigs are burned immediately after the 

 frost is out of the ground, and while the ground is damp. 

 Generally the following year the cleared area is sown 

 with pine and spruce seed. On pine land spruce seed is 

 mixed to about 50 per cent. On land which is suitable 

 for both, 60 to 70 per cent of spruce seed is used. On 

 pure spruce land 15 to 20 per cent of pine seed is mixed 

 in. On cleared land, to prevent injury from drought, 

 long, narrow seed strips made by hatchets are used 

 about a yard apart, not large squares; but when heath or 

 grass growth is to be feared then planting is to be pre- 

 ferred. For hacking of these seed strips are selected 

 places which are suitable for the growth of the seeds and 

 protection of the plants, such as the north side of shad- 

 ing objects, for example, stumps, windfalls, fixed rocks, 

 etc. The seed is laid on the south corner of the seed 

 strip so that seed and plant will be better shaded. When 

 sown on rocky land it . has to be raked and covered by 

 hand. On even ground the seed strips should be made 

 in a direction from east to west, and the seeds not deep, 

 harrowed down along the south border of the strips. On 

 the other hand, on steep descents the seed strips should 

 be laid horizontally, so that the seed, in case of heavy 

 rain, shall not be washed down the hill. During the 

 latest ten years there have been yearly about 2,400 acres 



