EXPENSE OF SOWING. 79 



changed into forests ; but when grubbed out, and subjected to the 

 action of black cattle during two or three years, they yield crops, 

 which repay the expense of grubbing, and which destroy the weeds. 



" I have tried boisements on a large scale on the Imperial domains 

 of Sologne. The following is the cost of sowing a hectare of 

 exhausted land : 



10 kilogrammes of maritime pine seed 



(winged) at 40 cents, ... 4 francs cents. 



1 kilogramme of Scotch fir seed 



(winged) at 3 francs, 

 150 litres of acorns at 3 cents, 

 50 litres of chestnuts at 5 cents, 

 Scattering the seed, ... 



Total, 16 francs 50 cents. 



"The expense of draining, levelling, enclosing, and weeding, 

 varying according to locality, amounts, at the least, to 15 francs per 

 hectare, so that the reboisement of a hectare will cost about 32 francs 

 50 cents, partly the seed, partly for hand labour. The expense of 

 ploughing and harrowing must be added, but usually this is not 

 great in these sandy soils. Land left in furrows only requires to be 

 harrowed after the seed is scattered. 



" This system of boisement is perfect and permanent, and free from 

 risk. 



" If the Scots fir does not germinate, which often happens, it 

 should be replaced by the maritime pine, and vice versa. If resinous 

 trees fail, the oak, birch, and chestnut will cover the ground 

 sufiiciently. 



" Some boisements cost only 4 or 5 francs per hectare instead of 32 

 francs 50 cents, in which case the seed of the maritime pine is sown 

 along with rye and buckwheat. The seed costs little, and the produce 

 of the mixed culture pays for the ploughing and harrowing. This 

 method has the drawback of risking all on a single tree, which may not 

 succeed. On the other hand, it is to be supposed that the ground is 

 not too far exhausted to be able to produce at least one other crop of 

 rye and buckwheat ; this is not usually the state of a field abandoned 

 by farmers or small land holders. 



" The young pineries, called here scqnnieres, are treated according 

 to the method already described." 



In the reclaiming of these Landes of La Sologne, we still find the 



