AFFOEESTATION OF PIT MOUNDS 65 



Staffordshire, where 100 trees have been planted in the 

 playground, says that the influence on the children has 

 been uplifting. The district is inhabited by a rough class, 

 yet the absence of vandalism is now noticeable. Here, 

 however, the tree- planting is too small in its scope to 

 have effected as yet any great change in the tone, manners, 

 and spirit of the people. Mr. Martineau confirms the 

 remarks of these teachers, and says that the plantations 

 have had a most cheering effect on the people near-by. 

 Some of the plantations are regarded by the neighbours 

 with positive affection. 



The Black Waggon plantation, which has been taken 

 charge of by the Higher Grade School of Eowley Kegis 

 Parish, is a fair example of the average growth to be obtained 

 in this kind of forestry. This mound consists partly of 

 grey shale and partly of shale mixed with slack. The 

 slack was fired and much of the ground is burned out. One 

 part is still hot, and has naturally not been touched. Alder 

 has been planted on the sticky grey shale ; birch on the 

 burnt-out part, a loose and very friable soil; and black 

 Italian poplar on the lower slopes. Some other species 

 have been tried experimentally, chiefly at the base of the 

 mound, viz. willow, sycamore, wych elm, grey alder, 

 Bobinia, and Sitka spruce ; but thorn and Austrian pine 

 have failed, and the soil is not good enough for sycamore. 

 Black Waggon mound was planted in 1907-1909,2^ acres 

 being covered with 5000 trees ; and the average measure- 

 ments of the three chief species in November 1916 

 were : 



Poplar, 19 feet high, 10 inches in girth at 3 feet above the ground. 

 Alder, 17.V „ 8 „ „ 



Birch, 16" „ 7 



The even growth, due to close planting, is remarkable ; and 

 this huge black bald mound, formerly an eyesore to the 

 district, is now covered with splendid trees, likely to 

 develop into good timber. The Midland Reaflforesting 

 Association has proved that valuable plantations of certain 



