DIRECT SOWING AND PLANTING COMPARED. 321 



loose stones and ramify and spread themselves out in proportion to 

 the quantity of soil they find there. 



II. Absence or presence, abundance and size of advance 



growth. 



If there is no such growth or if it is open or very young, then 

 the question of sowing or planting will be decided entirely on other 

 considerations, particularly those of soil and locahty and the nature 

 of the species to be used. Otherwise, it will generally be neces- 

 sary to put out plants of about the same size and vigour as the 

 existing growth, for sowings would stand very Httle chance of 

 escaping suppression, and they would be allowable only in the 

 event of extremely shade-enduring or rapid-growing species being 

 used or of the previous growth being completely cleared away 

 from wherever the seeds are sown. 



III. Amount! of tree-shelter available. 



As regards such shelter we may have either — 



(i) Bare open land, that is, land neither containing any trees 

 nor bordered by them ; or 



(ii^ Land fringed with trees affording lateral shelter, but con- 

 taining itself no trees ; or 



(iii) Land enjoying shelter both overhead and laterally. 



1. Bare open land. 



In completely bare open land there is nothing to check wide and 

 sudden fluctuations of temperature both of the air and of the soil 

 or to diminish the action of dangerous winds, or to prevent 

 marshiness in the rains or to oppose erosion ; and if the soil has 

 been for any purposse loosened or broken up, there is nothing to 

 check the multiplication of insects. 



Hence in such land the early formation of a leaf-canopy is 

 always necessary and becomes all the more urgent with widening 

 ai'ea or increasing distance from standing forest. Consequently 

 planting will be the rule, save in the very exceptional case (a) of 

 the species not standing being transplanted and being at once 

 hardy, rapid-growing and ot quick and easy germination, and of 

 the soil and chmate being at the same time favourable, and (h) of 

 irrigation being available. For instance, in those parts of the teak 

 region in which frosts are unknown, that species, as it cannot bear 

 having its taproot injured, but shoots up rapidly and stands 

 drought well, may generally be sown directly. In the Changa 

 Manga plantation, where irrigation was available, sissu was sown 



