198 ARTIFiriAT. FORMATION OF WOODS. 



wliicli tlie former is ignited. The effect of burnt turf is not of 

 long duration ; manuring Mith it has generally to he repeated 

 every year ; it acts, however, very favoural)ly upon the 

 physical condition of the soil, somewhat in the same way 

 as humus. 



/. Lai/lnii out the Xursorij. 



The area of the nursery is divided into compartments of 

 convenient size, generally of the shape of a square or 

 rectangle. The number of compartments depends on the 

 number of species to be grown and the age of the plants 

 when put out into the forest. Assuming the latter to be 

 three j'ears, there should be four compartments in each set, 

 to allow each compartment to lie fallow, or be used for the 

 cultivation of a field crop every fourth year. 



The compartments should be separated b}' roads, which 

 cross each other at right angles. Their breadth depends on 

 circumstances ; in most cases it is desirable to make the 

 main roads sufficiently broad to admit carts or waggons. The 

 roads are excavated to a depth of to 12 inches, the soil 

 being spread over the adjoining land and then filled in with 

 a layer of macadam or coarse gravel, covered by a thinner 

 layer of fine gravel or sand, in such a manner that the 

 surface slopes gentl}^ from the centre towards the sides. A 

 useful measure is to line the roads by an edging of a suital)le 

 plant (privet, box, etc.), which lielps to keep them tidy. 



In the case of heavy seeds, sucli as acorns, chestnuts, etc., 

 the whole compartment is sometimes sown broadcast, or in 

 lines at such distances that a man can walk botwoen them, 

 and then no further division is required. In the majority of 

 cases, however, the compartments destined for sowing are 

 divided into parallel beds intersected by paths. These beds 

 should not be more than 4 feet broad, so that a man can 

 easily reach from tlio path to the centre of the bed without 

 treading on it. The paths are of just sulhcient breadth to 

 allow a man to walk along them. Where the seed beds are 

 to be irrigated by overflow, the patlis should l)e on a higlier 



