942 Planting Waste Lands in Germany, [march, 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have received 

 through the Foreign Office a memorandum, of which a 

 summary is given below, furnishing 

 Planting Waste certain information as to the planting 



Lands in Germany. Q f waste lands in Germany. Some 

 particulars as regards the steps taken 

 in Denmark, Holland, France, and Belgium appeared in the 

 Journal for February last, p. 858. 



Prussia. — During the six years 1 901-1906 about 300,000 

 acres of land suitable for forestry were acquired by purchase 

 or exchange, of which a part was already wooded. The cost 

 of purchase, including about 57,000 acres of agricultural 

 land, as well as a number of dwelling houses and farm 

 buildings, which were taken over at the same time, amounted 

 altogether to ;£ 1,934, 000. The cost of afforestation amounts 

 on the average to about 48s. per acre. 



The Scots fir (Pinus sylvestris) is almost entirely employed 

 on the diluvial sandy soils of the North German plain ; where 

 the nature of the soil is suitable, seed is used, but in most 

 cases yearling plants are employed. Uncultivated tracts in 

 the hilly and mountainous country of West Prussia are 

 planted with four or five year old transplanted saplings of 

 Pinus excelsa. 



As regards measures for encouraging afforestation among 

 rural communes and private landowners, it is stated that 

 expert instruction and advice are given to landowners, the 

 efforts of societies for sylviculture are stimulated, seedlings 

 and plants are provided cheaply or free of charge, and grants 

 and prizes for afforestation are made. In 1908, an outlay of 

 ,£22,500 was provided for in the Budget for the purpose of 

 encouraging communal and private action, and the formation 

 of forestry sections in the Chambers of Agriculture has done 

 much towards the promotion of private enterprise. 



Bavaria. — No provision is made for the acquisition or 

 planting of waste and poor heath land, as such land is usually 

 in the possession of communal or private owners. Should 

 an exceptional case arise, however, ample funds are available 

 for the purpose. There are no legal regulations by which 

 private proprietors or communities can be constrained to 



