FORESTATION, WITH EXAMPLES 167 



seed is more exposed to mice and to birds. The seed sown in the autumn 

 is covered almost at once by snow, and in the high mountains the period 

 from September 1 to October 30 is considered the best time. Excellent 

 results were occasionally obtained in the past by sowing broad cast on 

 the snow, especially by the notable sowing at Barcelonnette in the years 

 1842-1846. Now, however, an entirely different method is employed, 

 known as the stick method (a la pointe du baton) (see p. 133). 



"The workman, who wears a little apron sack belted to his waist, holding 4 to 6 

 pounds of seed, is given a stick 1 to 1| inches in diameter and 12 to 16 inches in length. 

 With this stick, one end of which is pointed, he makes little furrows in the soil at suit- 

 able places. The depth of these furrows should not exceed 0.8 to 1.2 inches and the 

 length should be between 8 inches and 3.3 feet. In this diminutive trench he places 

 pinches of seed carefully spaced; one or two seed to each 0.4 inch is amply sufficient; 

 as a rule the workmen tend to put in too much, and the seed is thus wasted. Exper- 

 ience has shown that this "stick sowing" gives surer and better results than sowing 

 by any other method. It is, moreover, quicker and cheaper. Its cost does not exceed 

 $3.86 to $4.82 per acre. The amount of seed used per acre is variable, an average 

 perhaps of 8.8 pounds for the larch and mountain pine and 22 pounds for cembric pine. 

 Moreover, the seedlings obtained by this procedure have also the advantage of being 

 ready for removal for fall planting if desired." 



This is a local method, however, which has not received wide official 

 sanction. At Barcelonnette (see p. 136 for further discussion) consider- 

 able success was attained by sowing larch seed on the snow in March or 

 April, especially when it was sown on the grass immediately before snow 

 fall. In this region the fir is both sown and planted, but apparently, 

 according to the local inspector, the best results were obtained by sowing- 

 seed spots. Spruce is usually planted. Planting is generally employed 

 where the soil is bare. According to French practice transplants are not 

 necessary. Here, in accordance with French practice, good-sized rocks 

 were placed south of seedlings on south slopes in grass where there was 

 danger from sun and drying. It is curious to find in the Barcelonnette 

 region a considerable use of Austrian pine, although Scotch pine grew 

 there naturally. According to the local inspector: 



"The foresters in France always like to change things. This apparently was the 

 only reason for using an exotic when a local species would have given better results. 

 In this locality, for planting on plateaus in grass, the hole is dug 12 by 12 by 12 inches 

 with a grub hoe. The richest soil is placed next the roots and the sod is turned up- 

 side down and replaced around the plant. On steep slopes the method is somewhat 

 different. The hole is dug 10 to 12 inches deep, 4.5 to 6 inches wide, and 12 to 14 inches 

 in length, and care is taken not to cut the sod below the hole, if there is any, in order 

 to avoid erosion. A peculiar method of planting in grazing land, where pubUc interest 

 demands grazing and yet some tree shelter is desired, is to plant a group of fifty trees 

 and then another group about 160 feet away." 



One of the best examples of reforestation in the Alps is in the valley 

 of the Drome above Valence, called the Luc working group. Corrective 



