E^SUM^; OF OONPEBENCES IX 1861. 177 



" It is agreed that the ground should be thoroughly pulverised and dug 

 to at least the depth of 30 centimetres, or 12 inches. All were not of 

 one opinion as to the quantity of seed necessary for stocking a nursery. As 

 to pine seeds, such as are principally made use of in mountain reioisement, 

 the calculation towards which most opinions seemed to converge, was from 

 8 to 10 kilogrammes of seed per are, 



" Sowing the entire nursery, and extracting the plants from a third of the 

 extent at the end of two years, with an immediate re-sowing of the ground, 

 and so on for the two other thirds, appeared to some an economical plan, 

 yielding satisfactory results. By this system the plants would be used 

 without being previously planted out. 



" Others thought that with regard to nurseries there should be less 

 thoughj of the expense than of the benefit to be expected ; and that it was, 

 above all things, necessary, especially at the beginning of a great enterprise, 

 to employ all possible means to ensure its success ; and that, with this in 

 view, the ground should be divided into strips, which should alternately be 

 sown and left unoccupied; that the young trees should be planted out 

 carefully, to allow of a proper development of the root ; and finally, that the 

 sowings should be graduated in such a way as to obtain a difference of age 

 favourable for transplantation. 



" Remaeks. — The idea underlying this suggestion is a sound one. 

 Attention should be given primarily to the efficiency of the nursery, 

 and the question of saving expense be considered secondary to this. 

 " For stocking the nurseries, it has appeared right to employ, as much as 

 possible, seed grown in the locality, or in the immediate neighbourhood. 

 It has been thpiight good to employ shelter of every kind, — branches, 

 stretched out cloth, straw quilted between canvas or cord, fern, and screens 

 of arbor vitae. Some were of opinion that the plants should be watered, 

 but with much caution; and it was thought that, although in certain localities 

 indispensable, there was in most cases the inconvenience of accustoming . 

 the plants to a moisture which would not always be maintained, and of 

 thus making them more sensitive to the action of heat. 



" Other operations, such as linage and hoeing, were considered by every 

 one to be indispensable. 



" All were also unanimously of opinion that the nursery should be 

 enclosed, and that nurseries of any extent should be provided with a hut as 

 a shelter and tool-house. 



" Remaeks. — There have been recommended, as sufiicient and econo- 

 mical fences, either simple ditches, wide enough to present obstacles 

 to the incursions of animals, or parallel lines of wire fencing, fixed at 

 regular distances to wooden posts, 

 " As a useful precaution in transporting, it was recommended to cover 

 the roots with a mixture of clay and cow-dung. 

 " Opinions were very various as to the season for sowing, mode of culture, 

 and several details as to keeping in proper order. 



" Remaeks. — Experience alone can provide useful hints as to what is 

 most suitable to each locality. 



" Choice of Teees. 



" The employes have not been able as yet to submit well prepared returns 

 as to the kind of trees to be used in mountain veboisement. Up to this 

 date, the trees principally used have been the epicea, or Norway fir, the 



