62 YALE FOREST SCHOOL 
He writes: “The windy, sun baked hills in the neighborhood 
of Marseille (where not denuded) are covered with pin dalep 
which during the summer and winter months must exist almost 
entirely without rain. Even at Grésque at an elevation of 350 
meters the rainfall is but 691 millimeters during an average year. 
Add to the summer droughts a temperature of 25° to 37° 
centigrade and the vegetative conditions become intolerable. 
The fellings consequently are light and rarely remove more 
than 25 per cent. of the volume. The selection system is 
employed because in the words of the inspector: ‘We are afraid 
of the regular shelterwood fellings because after the parent 
trees are removed the young crop is exposed to the full force 
of the wind and drought. To avoid heavy losses during the 
periodic droughts we employ light selection fellings: if once 
the ground becomes denuded artificial restocking is a difficult 
undertaking.’ 
“And no wonder it is difficult! In the Commune of Marseille 
(Serie de reboisement de la Gordiale), the government has pur- 
chased some 800 hectares of denuded calcareous hills as a 
demonstration forest and to temper, if possible, the climate, of 
Marseille by surrounding it with forests. Here a local nursery 
has been established and systematic reforestation is in progress. 
It has taken years of study to determine the best methods. 
“They sow the pin d’alep in seed spots where the conditions 
are not too unfavorable and use ball plants (pot method) where 
seeding results or would result in failures. The sowing and 
planting is in the fall just before or during the rains. Spring 
sowing is equally successful until the summer drought starts 
but during this period the losses are enormous. The seed spots 
are carefully cultivated and cleared of stones and rocks. The 
size varies somewhat but on poor ground the spots are .80 by 
.60 meters and 30 to 35 centimeters deep. They cost from 6 
to 12 cents each, and are irregularly spaced 3 to 4 meters apart 
by a rough quincieux system. When the soil is ready for the 
seed the surface is 2 to 5 inches below the ground level. This 
depression collects the water a little during the rains and pro- 
tects the seedlings against the wind. Perhaps 60 seeds (a small 
handful) are sown in each spot and are raked into the soil 
to a depth of 1 to 1% centimeters. As soon as the sowing is 



