DIRECTLY FOSTERING VEGETATION OP YOUNG CROP. 465 



the highest edge of the forest. In the mixed crop, besides main- 

 taining a protective screen, every effort should be made to obtain 

 a sufficient and evenly-distributed proportion of individuals of one 

 or more hardy and quick-growing species, vphicb should be allowed 

 to just keep ahead of their delicate neighbours. 



Weeds ank. Geass. — On rich, moist soils, young seedlings, par- 

 ticularly of species which are naturally slow in establishing them- 

 selves,, are kept back for long years by weeds and especially grass. 

 In some soils and climates, low shimbby species become even more 

 dangerous than grass, since their root-system is stronger and their 

 crowns more spreading and invasive. In all such cases, if the 

 money and labour are available, the noxious vegetation: should- be 

 got rid of to a sufficient extent to enable the seedlings to shoot 

 ahead rapidly and close over the ground, thereby suppressing their 

 enemies. It virill generally be found most convenient and econo- 

 mical to clear out by the roots all this harmful growth along 

 narrow parallel strips from 6 to 10 feet apart, wherever the seed- 

 lings have no fair chance of making headway. 



Insects AND Parasites. — As regards monkeys and diestructive 

 quadrupeds, they must either be destroyed or their numbers kept 

 within bounds. Against insects we have only the following pracr 

 ticable remedies : — ^mixture of species, associating a sufficient 

 number of broad-leaved trees vnth conifers,, maintaining the leaf- 

 canopy as close as economical and sylvicuftural' considerations will 

 allow, keeping the soil and forest free of dead- and dying- trees and 

 dead wood, encouraging every insectivorous creature- that is not 

 otherwise harmful,, and securing by every means in oup power a 

 healthy and vigorous growth, in the case of fungus aittacks very 

 prompt measures are necessary. The trees attacked should be at 

 ence felled and burnt j and, if necessary, the soil in which they 

 stood should be isolated by means of a deep ■ circular trenchi 

 Flowering parasites, Uke LoraMhus, figs, &c-., are easily overcome 

 in the regular fellings, -which should remove trees infested by themi 

 If these trees are too numerous to be all felled together, the- worst 

 cases should be got rid of first, and the expurgatory operations 

 repeated as frequently as possible until the forest has been practi- 

 cally cleared of the pest. 



ARTICLE a. 



Directly fostering the growth of the crop. 

 When the young crop is too dense or too open or is interspersed 



