64 PROTECTION OF WOODLANDS. 



artificial formation of crops, have often to be overcome by a 

 special preparation of the soil, rendered necessary before sowing or 

 planting operations can be carried out. Especially in the case of 

 woody-fibrous weeds, like heath and heather, the soil is often 

 matted with a thick, close net-work of roots, which is alike 

 antagonistic to 'natural reproduction and artificial formation of 

 woodlands ; thus the costs of wooding or re-wooding such areas 

 are often considerably increased, owing to' the necessity of using 

 stout transplants in place of the cheaper seedlings, which might 

 often suffice under more favourable circumstances. 



A dense growth of weeds also withdraws from the soil large 

 quantities of mineral nutrients which are practically lost for the 

 timber crops, when these weeds are, as is often the case, repeatedly 

 utilised for manure, litter, &c. ; the penetration of atmospheric 

 precipitations, and of light rainfall in particular, into the soil is 

 hindered, for no small portion of it remains hanging on the weeds, 

 whence it is rapidly evaporated again. 



Quick-growing weeds, and especially grass, over-top young 

 timber crops owing to their slower development at the youngest 

 stages of growth, and consequently interfere with their well-being 

 through the withdrawal of air, light, and dew from them ; when 

 dying in autumn, the weeds are apt to overlay the young plants 

 to a considerable extent, pressing them down to the ground under 

 the weight of snow which collects on the top, and not infrequently 

 completely smothering and choking them. Creepers and twin- 

 ing weeds, like brambles, honeysuckle, and wild hops, often 

 completely cover the young plants, and gradually suffocate th< 

 or stifle them in their embrace. Some plants, like swamp-m< 

 can occasion excessive moisture in the soil, and give rise to tl 

 formation of bogs, with all their drawbacks, whilst on other pi* 

 and especially when there is a strong growth of rank grass, rapic 

 drying up of the soil takes place in consequence of the active 

 transpiration of the moisture held in the upper layers of the soil 

 plantations in which there is a rank growth of grass often shoi 

 these evil effects most. And in consequence of the rapid trai 

 piration taking place in spring, plants standing among grass 

 frequently be seen to suffer from frost ; whilst similar plants, no! 

 surrounded with a thick growth of transpiring grass, sustain n< 

 damage, although growing on precisely similar soil. 



Injurious animals, like mice or voles, and certain kinds 



