BEtiUMi: OF 00:{f£B£KC£» IN 1861. 179 



kilogrammes of Scotch fir, or of similar seed, and at 6 kilogrammes of larch. 

 This quantity ought to be doubled when the sowing is done in strips. 

 These quantities are, besides, essentially variable, according to circum- 

 stances and locality. 



" Kemaeks. — The Administration thinks it proper to recommend the 



sowing of seed upon the snows. Although its success has not yet 



been tested in a sufficient number of places, there is reason sufficient 



to employ it with diffisrent kinds of seeds, and in different places, 



where it may be likely to succeed. It is not necessary to 



enlarge on the advantages of so simple and economical a mode of 



repewpl&ment. 



" On volcanic soil, covered with scanty heath, good results have been 



obtained by sowing broadcast, without any further preparation than 



a simple ecobuage when the long thistle heath hinders the seed from 



reaching the ground. 



" The necessity for early sowing cannot be too much insisted on, — in 



March, for example, when they can ptofit by a few fine days, often 



very soon followed by snow and rain. Germination then takes place 



under favourable conditions, and the young plant is able to resist 



the great heat, which would have killed it if the sowing had been 



deferred until the last snow had melted. 



" It is desirable to form artificial shelter wherever it is possible. When 



planting is the mode chosen, the season chosen is not the same in every 



district. Opinions are not agreed on this point. In Provence it has 



appeared that almost invariably planting in autumn is to be preferred, 



because of the early season of the droughts, and on account of the scarcity 



of workmen who are resuming their agricultural employments. 



" The age at which plants should be used is very variable. In the high 

 regions of the Drome and the Is6re, it has been remarked that plants should 

 be strong in proportion to the elevation of the district. It is good at such 

 points only to plant trees which are four or five years old at the least. 



" The quantity of plants per hectare is necessarily variable, only strictly 

 local indications can be given on the point. 



" The expense of the stocking per hectare has not yet received a sufficiently 

 approximate calculation. Experience alone can furnish the data necessary. 

 " Several employes have considered the question, whether the mode of 

 working by contract might not be advantageous and economical for the pre- 

 paration of the soil ; without being quite decided, they are inclined to think 

 that this mode of proceeding may be useful. 



" Remarks. — It does not appear that there are as yet sufficient grounds 



for throwing open the operations to private speculation. It is only 



after they have been for a long time carried on economically that it 



wiU be advisable to substitute contract for Government management. 



" The scarcity of workmen in certain districts, and especially in the Alps, 



has engaged the attention of the agents, who have expressed a wish that the 



Administration would interfere and obtain from the Minister of War the 



paid assistance of military workmen when circumstances permit. 



"Rbmaeks. — The Administration will most willingly negotiate this 

 matter with the Minister of War when it becomes necessary. But 

 to do this it must be able to specify and define the proposal, and let 

 him know the situation and extent of the operations, their duration, 

 the time when they will take place, the number of workmen required, 



