218 TEMPORARY NURSERIES. 



To what extent the spot should be open or sheltered by standing 

 trees will depend on the nature of the species to be raised and 

 on the amount of protection required against frost, drought, 

 &c. For some species the site must be entirely open, for 

 others again, at the extreme end of the scale, a more or 

 less full canopy of trees overhead will be required. Between 

 these two extremes there are a great many intermediate 

 degrees depending on the hardihood and light-demanding nature 

 of the species to be raised and on the prevalence of frost, drought 

 and other injurious climatic influences in the locality. When the 

 shelter of trees is indispensable, individuals of middle age with 

 long clean boles and crowns, that have not had time to spread 

 out to any great extent, are the best to have. According to 

 Heyer, it is a fact proved by experience that in Europe broad- 

 leaved trees are better to have over conifer seedlings than conifers 

 themselves, and vice versa. This may be found to be true also in 

 India and is certainly completely borne out by our own experience 

 in this country, and its explanation is to be sought in disparity of 

 root-systems and different requirements of the roots in the soil. 



As regards accessibility it is evident that the nursery should not 

 only be situated as near as practicable to the places to be planted 

 up, but be easily reached, and, if possible, be also accessible to 

 hand-carts or wheel-barrows. 



ARTICLE 2. 

 AREA. 



The question of area is one of very easy solution, since we know 

 previously the system of planting to be followed and the exact 

 area for which planting material is required. That area will in every 

 case depend on the distance up to which the plants may be easily, 

 cheaply and safely carried, and on the percentage of failures antici- 

 pated. In the hills it will also depend on the range of elevation of 

 the hill-side to be operated upon and the number of distinct forest 

 zones of which it consists : each such zone, being entirely the result 

 of well-marked climatic differences, will require a separate nursery 

 situated inside itself. Thus the area of a temporary nursery may 

 vary from a few square yards to half an acre or more. Where 

 destructive quadrupeds are numerous, it is advisable not to have 

 nurseries of such a size as to invite their depredations by their 

 couspicuousness. Nevertheless, if any establishment can be 

 located at the nursery, the area may of course be large. Under 

 any circumstances, it should be large enough to be able to produce, 



