BRITISH FOREST TREES 77 



developed self-sown seedlings have asserted themselves on 

 blanks occasioned by windfall, &c., their retention is often 

 advisable. Where a recent fall of timber has taken place, a 

 natural growth can often be obtained if bands be prepared 

 for the reception of seed whenever numerous cones on the 

 neighbouring trees to the windward side show prospect of a 

 large supply of seed being shed in the following spring in 

 the direction of the area to be re-wooded. But such natural 

 reproduction cannot be relied on for more than 100 to 120 

 yards, and is often extremely irregular and unsatisfactory, 

 necessitating considerable outlay for the filling up of blanks. 

 As germination can only be secured on dry soil when the 

 seed has some soil-covering, it is advisable either to break 

 up the soil before the time of seed-shedding, or to go over it 

 lightly with the rake or harrow after the seed has fallen. A 

 favourable germinating-bed is afforded by places where the 

 stumps of the trees have been grubbed out to decrease the 

 number of breeding-places available for such dangerous insect 

 enemies as are found among the Curculionidaewh&Bostrichini. 



In the enormous pine forests of northern Germany, 

 natural reproduction over large areas has long been given up, 

 and total clearance of the mature crop is at once followed by 

 sowing or planting operations, except near the edge of next 

 year's fall, where, for the distance of about xooto 200 yards, 

 there is sometimes a growth of self-sown seedlings from the 

 seed shed during the last year, which is often capable of form- 

 ing close canopy with more or less of artificial assistance. 



Artificial Formation and Reproduction. Whether the 

 artificial formation or reproduction should take place by 

 sowing or planting is a question dependent mainly on local 

 circumstances in each case. In northern Germany, for 

 example, it has received a practical answer in the fact that 

 whilst about twenty or thirty years ago there was at least as 

 much sowing as planting, the latter has now become the 



