FOREST NURSERIES AND NURSERY METHODS IN EUROPE. 



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the rapid evaporation caused by south winds. Although not closely surrounded 

 on all sides by high forests, there is a dense tree growth near by of various age 

 classes. Owing to the altitude the natural soil is thin and poor, but the entire 

 surface of the nursery is deeply covered with rich, friable earth composed largely 

 of humus mixed with fertilizers. It has the appearance of a fine loam, with no 

 black earth in it aside from that brought from the forest near by, and with 

 enough clay and sand to give it a light color. 



The beds for conifers are four feet wide, and of various lengths to suit the 

 terraces, most of the beds being about thirty feet long. The greater part of 

 the area is occupied by transplants, the seed beds needing comparatively small space. 



In preparing the seed beds the seeds are planted in rows running across the 

 beds. Formerly the seeds were sown broadcast in these beds, but this was 

 abandoned because, as claimed by the forester in charge, by sowing in rows a 

 much smaller amount of seed is used, the plants grow stronger and more even 

 in size, are more easily weeded, and can be taken up with less work and injury 

 to the roots. 



The seedlings are taken from the seed beds when two years old and trans- 

 planted into the long beds, where they remain two or three years more. The 

 transplants are then four or five years old, from twelve to eighteen inches high, 

 and are ready for transfer to the grounds where the final planting for the future 

 forest is made. The Italian foresters seldom use two-year-old seedlings in their 

 fieldwork, preferring to wait for the four-year-old transplants on account of the 

 advantages which the latter have in size, hardiness and better root system. 



The plants are allowed to remain in the seed beds and transplant beds 

 respectively as follows: 



Spruce 



Pine 



Larch 



Beech 



Oak 



Maple 



Ash 



Seed beds, 

 years. 



2 

 2 

 2 



2 to 3 



Transplant beds, 

 years. 



Removal to 



plantations at, 



years. 



5 

 4 

 4 

 3 

 3 

 4 to 5 

 3 



The locusts are not transplanted in the nursery, but are taken from the seed 

 beds when they are one year old and sent directly to the final plantation in the 

 field. 



