B^SsUSrfi OP OONPBBBNCES IN 1862. 189 



ailanthus had as yet given too little experience for deducing from its use 

 any certain remarks. The Scotch fir, the Norway fir, the Mugho, and the 

 larch, have been employed with success in different situations. In the 

 departments of Vancluse, of the Gard, of the Bouches-du-Khone, of the Var, 

 of the Maritime Alps, and of L'Herault, there was reason to think that the 

 trees which should be used principally were the white oak, the green oak, 

 the acacia, the maritime pine, the Norway fir, and the larch — at all altitudes, 

 and in situations pointed out by experience. , The planting in holes, taking 

 the precaution to disturb the soil very little, and to procure for the young 

 trees natural shelter — such as bushes, rocks, and the stones which are found 

 on the land — seemed to be the most suitable system of planting. 



" The mode of planting in clumps, which is very costly, should only be 

 used for resinous trees, and in situations where to secure success is difficult. 

 But this proceeding will always be most advantageous when it is not 

 necessary to regard the question of economy. The best plants are generally 

 transplanted plants of two or three years. 

 " Remarks, &c., of the Administration. 



"The last mentioned method has been made the subject of experi- 

 ment with success. It is not well to attach too much importance to 

 the expense which it occasions : in the first place, the plants being 

 very small, their price is not great ; in the second place, the prepara- 

 tion of the soil is very easy ; finally, as this process is almost always 

 successful, it must be employed without fear in difficult situations, 

 apart in some measure from the question of expense. 

 " The number of plants per hectare to be employed varies from 10,000 to 

 1 6,000 for separate plants, according to the conditions of exposure and soil, , 

 and the kind of tree, etc. For planting in clumps, the number would be 

 from 30,000 at the rate of 3 plants per hole, and 10,000 holes per hectare. 

 The planting in autumn is generally preferable, as giving time for the plants 

 to be in a state to resist the spring frosts and the early heats. 



" The cost of manual labour varies from 40 to 100 francs. The cost of 

 plants varies too much to allow of an estimate approximately correct being 

 made. 



" Nifith Question. 



"Sowing. — Discuss the choice of kinds of trees, the fitness of each 

 mode of sowing, (sowing in rows, in holes, in the open bed, etc.,) the quantity 

 of seed to be used per hectare, the fit season for carrying on the works, the 

 expense of the work per hectare, etc. 



" Opinions, due, of the Agents. 



" The agents of the conference at Clermont reckoned that in the central 

 region, wherever the climate is mild, and the altitude a medium one, (800 

 mfetres and under,) the oak and chesnut should be employed in preference 

 to every other tree, and if the soil is of poor quality, the resinous trees, the 

 acacia, and ailanthus. 



" In the regions where the climate is more severe, and the altitude greater, j 

 recourse should be had to the Scotch fir, the Austrian pine, the Corsioan i 

 pine, the mountain pine, the Norway fir, and the larch. The Atlas cedar, 

 the larch, and the Siberian cedar can be used for the greatest heights. 



" No tree, except perhaps the fir-tree and the beech, ought to be rejected 

 in so far as the sowings are made in loco. 



" The least costly and most simple method of sowing, practised for a long 



