FORESTRY OF JAPAN. 95 



nursery beds have been established, and with the ever increas- 

 ing expansion of the forest work, the number of nursery beds 

 have increased so as to meet the increasing demand. Nursery 

 beds belonging to the State at the end of 1907 numbered 349, 

 covering a area of 967.720 cko, and those which belong to the 

 Imperial Household number 1 13, covering an area of 148,230 

 cJio. These beds belonging to the State and Imperial House- 

 hold were established in the land in their possesion in the 

 neibourhood of the Minor Forest Office (Those belonging to 

 the Imperial Household at the outstation of the Bureau of the 

 Imperial Forestry). When the State estate (or the Imperial 

 estate) is not available in suitable places, the land owned by 

 the people is leased for the purpose, but this forms only a 

 minor portion, and will be gradually transferred to the land 

 tinder the respective control. The work of raising plants in 

 nurseries involves comparatively a large number of labourers. 

 The demand for the labour is limited to certain season in 

 which a large number of workmen are required, so that the 

 vicinity of villages and towns as well as the neighbourhood of 

 forest officers stationed is preferable for the sake of better 

 management. For the purpose of the transplantation of 

 seedlings, however, it is advisable that these nursery beds 

 should be located in the vicinity of forests which afford facilities. 

 In the State, and the Imperial forests, with the extension of 

 the forest works, the number of nursery beds have been 

 increased so as to afford facilities as much as possible. 



The growth of seedlings varies according to the tree 

 species, but as a rule when seedlings are grown for three years, 

 .and reached to the height, of between 1.5-2.0 shaku, they are 



