INTERPLANTING. 133 
of Irance—viz., both being converted from an wunder-forest with 
‘standards ’’ to futaie or “‘high’’ forest. It will be a century or more 
before French forests get rid of their excessive coppice and before New 
Zealand forests get rid of their excessive undergrowth. 
INTERPLANTING NOT FOR Dry CLIMATES. 
It should be noted that in a drier climate than that of most parts of 
New Zealand interplanting would be of doubtful success. One of the 
first facts that came prominently to notice when European forestry 
found its way to South Africa was that the under-planting and inter- 
planting of England and mid-Europe was useless in South Africa except 
in quite the wettest parts. The scrub and native vegetation had posses- 
sion of the soil, and as soon as the droughts of summer set in the planted 
trees were dried out and died. In the heavy rainfalls of the Kauri and 
northern ‘‘ mixed ’’ forests this difficulty vanishes, while there remains 
the European advantages of partial shade and shelter, with the undis- 
turbed forest soil. 
Success in New Zealand,—In the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture 
of the 20th September, 1917, is an interesting account of the interplant- 
ing of Insignis-pine in Gorse and Manuka scrub by Mr. H. G. Kingsland, 
of Appleby, near Nelson. He savs. ‘*‘ Trees planted in short scrub seem 
to come away quicker than those planted in the open. The scrub seem- 
ingly protects them and draws them up.”’ Planting in Gorse is discussed 
later. 
Two Pracrican Pornts or INTERPLANTING. 
For success with interplanting two practical points have to be 
considered ;— 
(1.) The heavy swing-hoe, 
(2.) ** Cut and mulch ”’ (*‘ Australian Forestry,’’ p. 231). 
(1.) The heavy swing-hoe is the chief tool required for planting 
and seed-sowing in the forest. Wherever there is room to swing it, it is 
a better tool than a ‘‘ grubber.’’ When kept well sharpened it turns over 
the sod with little more than its own weight in the swing. The long- 
handled Continental shovel is common in New Zealand, but the heavy 
long-handled swing-hoe seems as rare in New Zealand as in England. 
Englishmen are not adepts in using it. A few years ago, when the 
Norfolk (England) farmers took to planting Sugar -beet, they had to im- 
port Dutch labourers to hoe the beet. Yet the work is not heavy for 
those used to the tool. It is favourite women’s work in countries where 
the women lead more outdoor lives and are stronger and healthier than 
in English communities. I have seen a Dutchman in South Africa go 
through a stout 3 in. sapling with a heavy swing-hoe nearly as easily as 
an axeman with an axe. 
Professor Recknagel, a well-known American forester, describes the 
use of the swing-hoe in artificial regeneration, Austria. It is almost the 
only tool for cutting through the debris and matted roots of the forest- 
floor. 
(2.) **Cut and mulch’’ has been mentioned above (p. 59). It is 
fully described in ‘‘ Australian Forestry ”’ at page 231. 
Disc WEED-STOPPER. 
With labour as high as it is in New Zealand the mechanical disc 
weed-stopper could probably be used economically in place of mulching. 
