CIS FOREST LITTER. 



absorptive than straw, and coutaius more nitrogenous matter, 

 phosphoric acid, and potash. Its rate of decomposition varies 

 with the species of moss. Mosses which usually occur in spruce 

 and silver-fir forest become rapidly converted into a fairly light 

 soil : the more fibrous kinds of moss, which grow on swampy 

 ground, doc-ompose more slowly. 



Dead ferns also form a valuable kind of litter, containhig not 

 only the largest quantity of ash, but also, when thoroughly dry, 

 being highly absorptive of liquid manure. Ferns also rot 

 rapidly, and improve the porosity of a soil. 



Litter of dead leaves of beech, lime, sycamore and ha/el is 

 very nearly as valuable us straAV ; when used fur manure, 

 however, unless thoroughly rotten, it is rather harmful to light 

 soils, in which it forms stratified layers, does not decompose 

 uniformly and often renders the soil too loose. Thus, light, 

 sandy soils manured with it often become superficially dry, and 

 the leaves and dung applied to them are blown about by the 

 wind. 



Dead needles, taken alone, are inferior to dead leaves of broad- 

 leaved trees, both in their ash-constituents and power of absorb- 

 ing dung. As, however, there is generally a certain amount of 

 moss with the needles, this increases their value as litter, and 

 hence, a mixture of dead needles and moss is preferred to dead 

 leaves. 



The branches of conifers form a litter very variable in value. 

 If it contahis only the twigs and last year's sappy shoots of the 

 trees, and all woody pieces less than the little finger in thickness 

 are carefully excluded, this litter in many districts is considered 

 valuable for stiff soils. It is not used in loose, sandy soils, or 

 when very woody. 



Heather, as well us lilLer from other weeds, is agricuUurally 

 inferior to the kinds already referred to. It varies, however, in 

 value, according as only the upper half of the plants, or the whole 

 plant is used ; if cut when young, or when old and woody ; in tiie 

 spring, or the autumn. Sods of heather, including the roots and 

 humus around them, as well as the whole plant, are much more 

 absorptive of dung than the heather alone ; but their removal is 

 never permissible under careful forest management. 



