AFFORESTATION OF PIT MOUNDS 63 
plantations and their continued protection. Herein lies 
the importance of enlisting in such a movement the active 
help and sympathy of school children and their parents. 
The species used have varied with the nature of the 
soil and atmosphere. The Black Country, on account of 
the acid fumes from its chimneys, is not favourable to 
conifers; but the Association has begun to plant Sitka 
spruce, while in some districts larch, Scots pine, and common 
spruce might be tried. The tree which succeeds best, not only 
on the loose and friable ash, but also on the refractory 
shale, is the common alder. Birch thrives on the ashy 
soil, except where the fumes are unusually dense. On 
considerably weathered mounds, on which grass is growing, 
ash, sycamore, and wych elm thrive fairly well. The 
black Italian poplar is usually planted around mounds; 
and, as it grows fast, serves as a protection belt. This 
shelter is required, as most of the pit banks are 500 to 700 
feet above the sea and are much exposed to strong winds. 
The wood of the two most successful species, alder and 
birch, is marketable at good prices in Birmingham and in 
the Black Country, being much used for handles of small 
tools, of electric switches, and of different utensils. They 
are sought for by the numerous wood turners of the 
district, as well as by many firms which make their wood- 
fittings in their own works. The cost of planting has been 
about £6 per acre for trees five feet apart, in addition to 
1s. per lineal yard for fencing; but it would be better to 
plant the trees four feet apart at a greater proportionate cost. 
The growth of the trees has been good, birch and alder set 
out in 1905-1908 being now 18 to 24 feet high, while 
poplars in 1916 had attained in some belts as much as 30 
feet. There are altogether 56 plantations, the largest 
(Moorcroft) being 34 acres. The others are considerably 
smaller, + acre to 5 acres. The total area planted is 
82 acres. 
The work of the Midland Reafforesting Association has 
been greatly encouraged by the Education Committee of 
the Rowley Regis District Council. The history of one of 
