On the use of PEAT MOULD 
in * 
Forest Tree Nursery. 
Report of Mr. SPRENG-EL, Prussian States ” Oberfbrster ", 
KLOSTERFORSTEREI, GOSLAR. 
It is difficult to get organic manure for the raising of 
forest trees, and which is necessary for opening up the soil of 
the Nursery, because only in very exceptional cases are Farmers 
prepared to sell their manure. Green manuring requires a consider¬ 
able increase of available area, and tends to increase costs. In 
many cases therefore, tree Nurseries suffer from caking of the 
top-soil, which cracks after short dry periods. 
Peat Mould has been proved to be the best means of improv¬ 
ing the physical condition of heavy soils, and for a succession 
of years has done good service as a substitute for stable manure,, 
besides which, it possesses special advantages. The beds after 
being limed and treated with the requisite quantity of commercial 
fertiliser, are mulched with Peat Mould, using about three bales 
per 100 square metres, after which very little cultivation is 
necessary. The mulch delays the loss of winter moisture, the soil 
remains looser and stays in a satisfactory condition for longer 
periods of dryness. * 
Whilst, during the few weeks the weeds are kept clown by 
hoeing the crop remains compact, the clearing of.the spaces between 
the plants opens such spaces up to all the local weed flora, and 
considerable expense is entailed for treatment with rake and hoe. 
Furthermore, however carefully this is done, plant life( especial¬ 
ly perennial ) remains, and soon re-establishes itself in the 
worked area. In very wet weather too, when work i,s not possible, 
the weeds grow apace, and it is an expensive matter to overcome 
this trouble. It is a case of constantly beginning over again, to 
get rid of the weeds which concentrate on those areas which have 
been cleared at much expense and trouble. 
Areas mulched with peat mould offer weed seeds* difficult 
conditions for germination and growth. In the Spring, before mulch¬ 
ing , existing weed can be removed without much trouble. If some 
weeds remain and lateron break through the mulch of peat mould,* it 
is an easy matter to pull them out, complete with roots. Beds im- 
permeated with couch on which all attempts to clear had been ’un¬ 
successful, can be easily cleaned up with the rake about two months 
after mulching. The cost of cultivation will be reduced to the 
minimum, as so much less labour will be necessary. The beds are 
much bettor to walk on in wet weather too, but care must be taken 
not to disturb the mulch, any breaks in it being filled up as they 
are made. 
Autumn seedlings can only be brought through the Winter 
without great loss, if they are mulched with some insulating mate¬ 
rial to protect them against the freezing of the soil at the begin- 
2) 
