136 ARTIFICIAL REFORESTATION 



over the seed sown later. Broadcast sowing in the spring on snow where 

 the mineral soil is bared often succeeds. According to my original notes: 



"Another special method of sowing was illustrated by a splendid larch stand near 

 Barcelonette. Here European larch was sown broadcast before or during a snow 

 storm. The moisture conditions here, however, are much better than in many parts 

 of the western United States where we have tried this method without success. Per- 

 haps one reason we have failed is that the French soak the seed in water for about a week 

 (larch three weeks) before sowing so that it will germinate. We might try this out on a 

 small scale. I am still convinced that we should not try to sow on our most difficult 

 ground; that for the very worst soil we must use spots or a substitute (such as ball 

 planting), but that the cost will be prohibitive for some years to come." 



In the Ventoux sessile and holm oak are sown. Eight hundred to 

 1,600 seed spots each, 12 inches square and 12 to 16 inches deep, are 

 sown per acre with 60 to 120 quarts of acorns. Shrubs are placed as a 

 shelter over the seed spots and as a further protection stones are heaped 

 up to the south side. In each seed spot the fifteen to twenty acorns are 

 covered with 0.8 to 1.1 inches of soil; this depth is varied. The sowing 

 is generally during November and December after the collection of the 

 acorns and before the frost, or, if it is not done at this time, in February 

 and March. In the Basses-Alpes seed spots are used for sessile and holm 

 oak and aleppo pine, species of a temperate climate. These seed spots 

 are 10 to 14 inches deep and in each spot are placed five to six acorns or 

 eight to ten pine seeds. The sowing is generally in the autumn. In the 

 Maritime Alpes aleppo pine and maritime pine are sown in seed spots in 

 the spring; 2,400 seed spots per acre are prepared 16 inches square and 

 12 to 18 inches in depth. The same method is used for sowing chest- 

 nut and oak. In the CeVennes and Central Plateau strip sowing is 

 sometimes employed. 



In the Var (near Marseilles) the conditions are unfavorable to tree 

 growth. There are rains from September 15 to December 15, and from 

 February 15 to April 15. The great drought occurs in June and it is 

 somewhat dry during the short winter season. During a hot summer 

 day the temperature rises to 37 C. (98.6 F.), and during the night it 

 rarely falls below 25 C. (77 F.). The soil is limestone and once bared 

 of tree growth is difficult to restock. Under these conditions there is 

 but one method of artificial restocking with aleppo pine. The sowing 

 is done in large seed spots, 3.3 feet long by 1.6 feet in width and 10 to 

 16 inches in depth. The whole seed spot is sown thickly, so that often 

 as many as ten plants germinate in. one spot, but because of drought 

 few survive after a year or so. Immediately after sowing the surface of 

 the seed spots is covered with brush held in place by rocks. This brush 

 protects against rodents, heat, and wind. The top of the seed spot is 

 usually left 0.8 to 1.2 inches below the rest of the ground in order to 

 collect moisture. 



