BRITISH FOREST TREES 135 



Artificial Formation and Reproduction of Silver Fir Woods. 

 The results of natural reproduction are seldqm so complete 

 as to be entirely independent of artificial assistance in the 

 way of filling up blanks. So long as standards admit of it, 

 sowing often has the preference, but otherwise the use of 

 seedling plants is usual, and wherever there seems little 

 prospect of a natural crop of seedlings being generated by 

 the parent trees, the artificial assistance is best given at once 

 without waiting for seed-years which may again prove dis- 

 appointing. Where sowing has been decided on, little soil- 

 preparation is requisite beyond the removal of too thick a 

 layer of moss in strips with a rake, or, at most, breaking up 

 of the soil in narrow strips with the hoe, or on squares, or 

 small oblong patches here and there, or horizontally on steep 

 hill-sides. When the filling up of blanks takes place, all 

 badly-grown young poles should be removed, and transplants 

 of one, two, or three feet in height with large balls of earth 

 around the roots can be utilised from the neighbouring 

 patches of denser growth which have been freely exposed to 

 light ; they can be put out at three, five or even six feet 

 apart, according to the size of the transplants. It is, how- 

 ever, not necessary or advisable always to plant up such 

 blanks with silver fir, for it presents a very good opportunity 

 for the introduction of spruce or pine as a subordinate 

 species. 



Although natural reproduction is the usual method of 

 treatment of the silver fir, there are many cases in which a 

 choice is given only between sowing and planting, as for 

 example in introducing silver fir as a subordinate into mixed 

 forests of other ruling species, or transforming woodlands of 

 other species into coniferous forests, or in the formation of 

 woods which have not recently been under any timber 

 crop. 



Sowing is usually adopted only where there is a sufficient 



