298 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



and towards subsequent utilisation either as pasturage or for 

 sylvicultural purposes. 



Production and reproduction of white alder are practically 

 the same as with the common alder, except that deep cutting, 

 close to the soil, stimulates the formation of stoles and 

 obviates the necessity of filling up blanks after inundations of 

 the stools, against which this species is more susceptible than 

 its relative. Where it is necessary to provide seedlings and 

 transplants for the purpose of planting, the procedure adopted 

 in the nursery is the same as in the case of the common 

 alder, except that the seed-beds should not be quite so 

 moist. In planting out, somewhat wider distances are given 

 to the white alder, as greater density is generally attained by 

 the after-growth of suckers ; where grass is intended to be 

 utilised for some time, it is best to plant out in rows of about 

 eight to nine feet to allow for the swing of the scythe, the 

 plants being then put out from four to six feet apart in the 

 lines. The plants are generally put out as two to four-year- 

 old naked seedlings or transplants, and the methods em- 

 ployed are either notching and packing below the turf, or 

 else pit-planting with the hand. On the somewhat drier 

 situations affected by the white alder, the operations may 

 either be carried out in spring or in autumn, but the pre- 

 ference is generally deservedly given to the latter. Some 

 measure of trimming, both of the roots and the upper por- 

 tion of the plants, is often necessary. This is borne even 

 better by the white than by the common alder, so that even 

 when the whole of the upper part is lopped off, and the 

 root alone is planted, as is sometimes advisable with weakly, 

 drooping seedlings, and in windy localities, it soon establishes 

 itself and commences to grow vigorously. 



