1 6 NOTES ON FORESTRY. 



at the proper germinating season following tlie first 

 light thinning. 



If the newly-introduced seedlings are as hardy 

 and of as rapid growth as those they have to con- 

 tend with, they may be left to take care of them- 

 selves ; but if they are less hardy, or of slower 

 growth in their first stages, we must help them 

 in the struggle by keeping down their opponents 

 for a while. 



But there is sometimes a demand for plantations 

 in grass-lands, or lands not previously occupied by 

 forests ; and here recourse must be had to artificial 

 sowing, the -method of which will vary with local 

 conditions and the character of the seed. 



All cattle being of course rigorously excluded, 

 the principal difficulties to contend with are the 

 present occupants of the soil, and temporary lodg- 

 ments of water upon the surface. Some of the 

 finest timber trees spring from most delicate 

 seedlings, as tun, sissoo, eucalyptus. These can 

 hardly struggle through rank grass, nor can they 

 stand being submerged for a few hours at this 

 stage, nor, on the other hand, can they struggle 

 through a drought of a few weeks' duration. 



The system best adapted to overcome these 

 difficulties in ordinary grass-land is that of turning 

 over the sod grass to grass, and sowing on the in- 

 verted sod. If the sod is taken thick enough 



