RE-PLANTING FORESTS IN MOUNTAINS. 189 



hardships upon the plant-vegetation than on plains. 

 For this reason only such seedlings should be selected 

 for mountain plantations as exhibit a strong, vigorous 

 growth, even if they are some years older than those 

 usually transplanted on plains. 



Moreover, the peculiar physical condition of moun- 

 tains, esijecially the unevenness of the surface and the 

 steepness of the slopes, require, sometimes, alterations in 

 approved modes of forest cultures on plains. So, for 

 instance, when it is decided upon to seed down large 

 sloping tracts with tree seed, there cannot exist much 

 doubt about the direction to be given to the seed-fur- 

 rows, as it is an unalterable rule in the cultivation of soils 

 on declivities to open furrows only level horizontally. 

 But even the best plowman would not be able to always 

 follow up an exact level direction in transverse plowing. 

 A long continued furrow will soon exhibit irregularities 

 by which, in times of heavy rains, openings will be caused 

 in the furrow through which not only the water, but 

 also washed out seeds and seedlings may be discharged 

 into lower localities. The ruts and grooves thus formed 

 would soon increase in volume and power, and in their 

 further run down hill break through the lower situated 

 seed furrows and destroy many parts of the plantation. 

 For this reason the plowman should, in distances of about 

 G feet, interrupt the row after having made openings 

 from 15 to 20 feet long and the next following lower 

 furrow should be so arranged that their openings would 

 face the midst of the unplowed places above. The 

 entire field would then look like this : 



20 f. 20 f. 20 f. 20 f. 

 6 f 6 f 6 f 



20 f . 20 f. 20 f. 

 6 f 6 f . . 



20 f. 20 f. 20 f. 20 f. 

 6 f 6 f 6 f 



