AFFORESTATION OF WASTE LANDS 329 



Much trouble will be saved in the future if this work is done 

 with care before planting begins. 



Species to plant. 



On the type of waste land likely to be taken up for afforesta- 

 tion the species which will probably be used are one or more 

 of the following: Douglas fir, larch, spruce, Sitka spruce, 

 silver fir, Corsican and Scotch pines, with beech as a mixture, 

 or for protection belts. Only a small proportion of waste 

 land is likely to be good enough for Douglas fir, and this will 

 ordinarily be planted in the more sheltered places on the 

 better and bracken-covered land ; larch will probably be best 

 on the better land at higher elevations than the Douglas, but 

 not on wind-swept ridges or plateaux, and it should be mixed 

 with beech. Silver fir is also useful on fairly good land in 

 districts where it is known to flourish and might be mixed 

 with spruce ; spruce and Sitka spruce will be chosen for the 

 wetter land on the higher elevations, and in the boggier parts 

 on lower elevations. Corsican pine will prove a very valuable 

 tree for the afforestation of the drier types of waste land, and 

 Scotch pine also, but the latter tree must not be used too 

 extensively on the higher elevations subject to much snow. 

 It will succeed best in the warmer climates on sandy soils at 

 low elevations. Beech, and perhaps sycamore, will be useful 

 for shelter belts round plantations and along ride sides and for 

 fire-belts, as well as for admixture with the other species to 

 improve the soil. 



Planting operations. 



When the area is extensive it will be best to start planting 

 on that side of the area where labour will be most easily 

 obtained and arrangements for supply of plants most easily 

 made. Though the eventual fellings will have to take place 

 in a direction contrary to the prevailing wind, it is not abso- 

 lutely essential to plant in this order unless the planting is to 



