9 



the natural is assisted by the artificial regeneration. The few mother trees that 

 are left to shelter the young trees, have this term of years of free developmen t 

 allowed by which large and valuable timber is produced. 



This plan may be worked by clearing a large area of all but a sufficient num- 

 ber of mother trees ; or it may be done by dealing only at first with groups of 

 trees scattered here and there, and when these have been renewed, dealing with 

 other groups; or it may be worked by the removal of single trees or small groups 

 selected here and there over the whole forest. 



By this last method less clean and shorter boles are produced than under the 

 first plan, but it is more suitable for hilly districts, as rain water is retained more 

 effectively, and there is less liability to landslips. 



When fire-wood or small timber only is required resort is had to the coppice 

 system in which when the tree is cut down, it sends out shoots from the stool. 



Sometimes the coppice system is used for an underwood, with an existing over- 

 wood of high standard trees. In this case the over- wood should consist of trees 

 with thin crowns, and the shade should be evenly distributed. 



ARTIFICIAL FORMATION OF WOODS. 



The formation of a wood may be 



(1) artificial, by sowing and planting, or 



(2) natural, through seed, shoots and suckers, or 



(3) a combination of methods. 



DIRECT SOWING. 



The seed may be sown directly on the area which it is proposed to stock. In 

 this case only a moderate amount of propagation can be given to the seed in the 

 ground and the efore it is well to select hardy species which thrive easily, and es- 

 pecially those with large seed. 



The trees in a forest should be close enough to give proper shelter to the soil, 

 and prevent growth of bush and weeds, and yet sufficiently far apart to allow 

 them to attain their proper development. The distance apart however which 

 suits seedlings is too close when they have grown into trees, and it is therefore 

 usual to strike a mean, and sow or plant at such distance that in from 5 .o 10 

 years a fair cover shall be established over-head. This consideration determines 

 the quantity of seed sown per unit of area, combined with a knowledge of the 

 nature of the soil, which requires less or more according as it is good or indiffer- 

 ent ; a knowledge of the mode of growth of different species, less seed being re- 

 quired if the seedlings are of quick growth at first ; of the dangers to which it is 

 liable from birds, etc. For instance in Europe it is usual when sowing broa- 

 cast to use 5501bs. of Oak seed per acre, 1501bs. Beech seed, 251bs of Elm, 61bs. of 

 Scotch Pine. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. 



The soil, as a rule, requires preparation before sowing. The bush, weeds, leaf- 

 litter must be first removed by cutting, drying and burning, unless they can be 

 dealt with in the loosening of the soil by the hoe, etc., for the reception of the 

 seed. 



When the soil is ready, the seed should be distributed as evenly as possible, by 

 allotting a certain quantity of seed to small sections of the whole a-ea. 



Broadcast sowing over the surface of an area can only be recommended when 

 the soil requires no cultivation, or where it is possible to raise one or more field- 

 crops to repay the cost of cultivation. 



Sometimes, in order to reduce the cost, the sowing is restricted to portions of 

 the area to be stocked, and this method may also become necessary over uneven 

 ground. These partial sowings may take the form of strips of seed beds rang- 

 ing in width from 1£ to 3 feet, alternating with unsown strips in width from 3 to 

 6 feet. The width of the sown strips depends chiefly on the degree to which the 

 unsown strips are likely to be overrun by weeds, and on the rate of height-growth of 

 the trees during early youth, the greater the former, and the slower the latter, 

 the broader should be the sown strips. 



Instead of strips, it may be more advantageous on uneven and rocky soil to 

 sow in patches. 



PLANTING. 



Instead of sowing directly on the land to be stocked with trees the method 



