56 PROTECTION OF WOODLANDS. 



species of Willows, are also suitable for cultivation. As a timber 

 crop simply and solely for the protection of the soil, and in 

 particular for the formation of protective belts along the coast of 

 the Baltic sea, satisfactory results have during the last few years 

 been attained by the cultivation of the Mountain Pine (Pinus 

 montana), which is the more especially suited for such an object 

 on account of the lower branches, that are longer than the upper 

 ones, not dying off but remaining alive down to the very ground. 



Planting is certainly the safest means of effecting the formation 

 of woodlands on shifting sand, and has now everywhere taken the 

 place of the former method of sowing which was apt to be uncer- 

 tain in its results. For very apparent reasons, strong transplants 

 are preferable to small seedlings, and transplants of Scots Pine, 

 with balls of earth attached to the roots, preferable to one or two- 

 year-old naked seedlings or transplants. But as in such sandy 

 districts plants retaining balls of earth around the roots are 

 not often obtainable, one is not infrequently compelled to make 

 use of naked transplants ; these should be made to develop as deep 

 roots as possible in the nursery, and be planted out somewhat 

 closely. When Poplars or Willows are utilised for this purpose, 

 they are put out as poles or strong layers. 



All young plantations should be frequently seen to, and blanks 

 at once carefully filled up, as the plants often die off in very 

 considerable numbers in dry years ; this matter should receive 

 proper attention in preference to pushing on the work of recla- 

 mation further in any hasty or imperfect manner. 



