1909.] Afforestation in Denmark, Holland, etc. 861 



or the Corsican Pine, and with Pinus montana. Where the 

 nature of the soil permits, leaf trees, especially oak and alder, 

 are also planted. The pines are generally planted as two- 

 year-old saplings, which have been transplanted once and 

 have long roots, while the leaf-tree saplings are generally two 

 or three years old. The saplings are mostly obtained from 

 State nurseries situated in or near to the grounds which are 

 to be planted. At places where the soil is very poor, experi- 

 ments on a small scale are being made to improve the soil by 

 growing lupins for green manuring, adding compost, &c. 



The afforestation of sand drifts is done much in the same 

 way as the dunes, but Pinus sylvestris is chiefly used, with 

 birch and oak. Heathland is more fully prepared, being 

 generally ploughed, after the main drainage ditches (if any) 

 have been dug. Where the soil is naturally loose and open, 

 the preparation of strips of land or the making of holes for 

 planting is sometimes sufficient. Green manuring with 

 lupins, and the subsequent growth of a couple of crops, is also 

 practised. Pinus sylvestris is chiefly planted, but on the 

 better soil leaf trees, especially oaks, are frequently inter- 

 mixed. Strong one-year-old pines with long roots are used, 

 and in the case of oaks two- or three-year-old saplings once 

 transplanted. Attempts are often made to encourage the 

 growth of the pines by applying basic slag and kainit. Ex- 

 periments with exotic coniferae are made in many places on 

 a small scale. 



The State grants an annual subsidy to a private Associa- 

 tion, the Netherland Heath Company, which has for its object 

 the promotion of the cultivation of heaths, dunes, and other 

 waste lands. This subsidy was formerly ^440, but now 

 amounts to £750 per annum. This Association gives advice, 

 draws up plans, and carries out the work if desired, but it 

 does not aim at making a profit. 



For the promotion of the afforestation of waste lands belong- 

 ing to communes, the Government have since 1907 granted 

 loans free of interest, and also provided technical assistance. 

 Any commune which owns a sufficient extent of land suitable 

 for afforestation may apply to the Minister of Agriculture for 

 such a loan, or several communes may combine their lands in 

 one application. If the application is approved, a plan of 



