bZZ FOKEST-FODDEK. 



3. Effecta of Pasture on Forest MdNat/emcnt, and Conditions 

 under uliich it may he tolerated. 

 At the present time it is very difficult to pasture cattle in forests 

 without danger to the latter. Although sometimes the forest 

 may thus profit in certain ways, and the magnitude of the danger 

 to which it is exposed may vary, yet in the majority of cases 

 pasture is a great hindrance to the productiveness of forests. 



(a) Advantages of Forest Pasture. 



In only a few cases does forestry gain any advantage from 

 pasture. These should not, however, he overlooked ; they consist 

 in the suppression of dense growth of grass and herhage in 

 regeneration-areas and plantations, in protection against mice, 

 and, to some extent, in keeping the surface-soil free for the ger- 

 mination of seeds. 



There are many sheltered regeneration-areas with moist and 

 rich soil, on which, after only a moderate admission of light, 

 such a strong growth of grass appears that the woody plants 

 under it must he stifled if the herbage is not carefully removed. 

 It is chiefly shade-bearing species of slow growth when young, 

 such as the beech, silver-fir and spruce, which thus suft'er to 

 any considerable extent, and for which the admission of cattle on 

 to the area may be advantageous. In higher altitudes large- 

 leaved herbs spring up among the tufts of grass and, especially 

 on moist soils, form such a dense mass of vegetation that the 

 young woody plants must perish were it not for the intervention 

 of cattle. It cannot be denied that in the Schwarzwald, the Harz, 

 &c., many young plantations and woods owe their existence to 

 cattle-pasture. Similarly, in the Central German mountain 

 ranges, as, for instance, the Vogelsgebirge, natural beech-repro- 

 duction can be secured against the luxuriant growth of grass 

 only by the help of cattle-grazing. In recommending the 

 admission of a moderate number of cattle into reproduction-areas 

 in order to keep down a stifling growth of grass and herbage, it 

 should be remembered that this is only applicable when the 

 latter threatens the existence of the young woody plants, and 

 cannot be removed by other means than the admission of cattle ; 

 and that, on the other hand, there are dangers connected with 

 grazing with which, in certain cases, the advantages already 



