105 



As a rule one should avoid giving the exotics 

 a special treatment ; for instance, covering them 

 in winter, as this usually turns out unfavourably. 

 It is only in the case of very late sowing that a 

 winter shelter becomes necessary, at least in the 

 first year, and this must not be too thick, and 

 should be gradually removed as spring approaches. 



3. The quality of the seed must only be judged 

 by its percentage of germinative power. Of two 

 quantities of seeds quite equal in this respect, 

 the cheaper one should be used, not those 

 advertised by the dealer on account of their 

 specially good origin (coming from unknown 

 northern territories of distribution, straight-grow- 

 ing trunks, &c.), as this recommendation simply 

 results in making it more costly. 



In every grain of seed lies the type of the 

 plant in its normal state, as regards frost-hardi- 

 ness, power of growth, straightness of trunk, and 

 so on, and it is only the new situation (soil and 

 climate) plus the raising, which decide whether, 

 and in what way, the tree grows. 



4. The first attempts at growing an indigenous 

 tree outside its natural stronghold (take, say, the 

 larch all over Europe, north of the Alps) or even 

 a foreign wood, must always be carried out under 

 such conditions (climatic zone, protection, soil, 

 &c.) as will give the greatest guarantee of their 

 development. It is only after we become ac- 



