beds, by avoiding soil which is too fresh and moist, and, therefore, more inclined to give full sway to grass and weeds.

Weeds will have to be fought most energetically on soil heretofore used as fields, which offers the advantage that its first cultivation is easy and, therefore, cheap, a fact which must be considered, where expenses are of great importance, whereas woodlands, freshly cleared, have but few of these disturbers, less than clearings which have been lying unstocked for some time.

If the country surrounding the forest nursery shows an abundance of weeds, the seeds of many of them will be carried to the seedbeds, and double watchfulness and care will be necessary. Attention must be directed to the prevention of too rapid growth of weeds by weeding during the repeated tilling, by doing away with the sprouting roots by heaping heavy layers of ground over the grass to further its decomposition and transformation into fertilizer, and to prevent its growing through, for patches of grass, not properly covered which force their way to the surface, are the most difficult to exterminate.

It is recommended that the cultivation of the soil should begin as early as possible in the spring, before sowing, to destroy the seeds of the weeds lying on the surface which may have begun to germinate, working them into the ground with an iron rake and bringing other similar seeds to the surface, exposing them to the sun, furthering their growth, for the purpose of treating in a like manner, and destroying them after sowing.

The spreading of weeds has been successfully prevented by covering the space between the rows of growing seedlings with moss, dry leaves, inexpensive slats or with split sticks, which are even cheaper. By these means the growth of weeds is stayed mechanically. Beds with stronger, transplanted plants have been covered entirely to the depth of two or three inches with the leaves of oak or beech trees, and thereby suffocating all germs of weeds. Even little slabs of stone, if such may be found in the immediate neighborhood, and obtained at almost no cost whatever, have been used for the same purpose with great success. All these coverings at the same time prove favorable to the preservation of humidity, preventing evaporation.

In spite of all these preventives larger or smaller quantities of weeds will appear in every seedbed, and will increase in the course of time, and their extermination will now be dealt with. The following rules, if observed, will prove useful:

Timely weeding in springtime is the best means to eradicate the germs of the enemy;

therefore an early tilling of the soil is of especial advantage; in no case should the weeding be postponed until the weeds have started to bloom, their extermination before that time should be the principal effort.

If possible, the weeding should be done while the soil is wet, so that the roots of the weeds may be torn out with the stems and not broken off, which in many cases results in the immediate regrowth of the weeds. If the weeding has to be done during dry weather, never do it without first loosening the soil. This loosening should never be left undone, for it is an absolute necessity to fertile growth.

The depth of loosening depends upon the material. Beds with stronger and older saplings will have to be loosened to a greater depth than those with conifer seedlings. In dry weather it will often be sufficient to leave the weeds lay on the surface, after having extracted them from the raked and loosened soil, and to let the sun dry them up. For this reason, if for no other, the loosening of the soil in dry weather is to be recommended. How often this has to be done depends upon the condition of the soil, the weather (rain of long duration forms one solid crust of the surface of the soil), and upon the necessity of extracting the weeds. It is an old and practical maxim, that it is better to loosen the soil too frequently, rather than too seldom; of course, the cost comes into consideration. Under all circumstances must the soil containing clay be loosened several times during the year.

How long shall this weeding, begun in the spring, be continued? The last weeding should be done towards the latter part of August, or during the first few days of September, for in a later loosening there is danger of the freezing of the soil.

If, after this last working, weeds appear again to any extent, they may simply be extracted or cut off on the surface; sometimes this must be resorted to at an earlier date, if during a period of drought, which prevented weeding, some weeds have grown so strong that there is danger of extracting the seedlings along with the weeds. Weeding, work which ought to be done by inexpensive labor only, in most cases is done best by hand, or with the assistance of an old knife, when the deeper roots may be lifted out of the ground, or cut off low down in the ground, if the entire taking out should be impracticable.

The best tool for this purpose is a two-pronged fork, the so-called "weeder," such as used by gardeners. Previous loosening of the ground with a hoe greatly facilitates the task, especially in ground containing clay, and in dry weather it

should be done immediately before weeding. If the work is to bring any results, it must be executed thoroughly.

This refuse, the weeds taken from the beds or from the paths between them, which naturally ought to be kept as clean as the beds themselves, should not be thrown away, but gathered in a heap, where it will decay and form a compost or dung hill. In reference to this a few words may be said about the formation of manure-piles. The manure consists of the different organic and mineral substances; the former have to decompose, before they can be used, and to that end the latter is a great aid.

Weeds of all kinds, especially those taken out in weeding the seedbeds, then foliage, mixed with the mire of ditches and quicklime, form the material of the compost-pile. To strengthen the manure ready for use, it may be mixed with ashes, lime and other mineral fertilizer.

Naturally, the quality and efficacy of the manure depends, in a great measure, upon the more or less careful preparation and upon the degree of decomposition of the organic substances. Good compost is an excellent, and at the same time inexpensive, fertilizer.

A manure-pile is best prepared in the following

way:

Choose a shady place, admitting plenty of fresh air. To the different materials, gained in the cleaning of the beds, add foliage from both soft and hardwood trees, and form a pile of any length desired, about three to five feet high. The pile must be turned over two or three times a year, and in dry weather sprinkled with water. If the decomposing does not progress as rapidly as desired, burnt lime should be added in layers while the pile is being turned over. This addition of lime, however, must be limited, otherwise the decomposition will make quicker progress than desired. The pile itself must be covered with earth, carefully laid on, so that warmth, humidity and ammonia will not disappear. After about five or six weeks the pile, started in the spring, must be turned over. This must be repeated two or three times at corresponding intervals. In the following spring the pile will furnish a most excellent fertilizer, ready to spread over the seedbeds and be gently worked into the ground. It is of considerable advantage to place a thin layer of compost over the beds before every sowing.

PAUL E. ARNOLD.

The most effectual way of reclaiming sand dunes is to plant on them hardy grasses and trees, the results at Cape Cod, Mass., being quite encouraging.

Β'

Forestry in New Zealand.

UT little is heard in this country in regard to the forestry work being conducted in New Zealand, where operations were first started by the Government in September, 1896. The principal effort thus far has been in the establishment of nurseries, which are utilized in raising trees to be transferred to the different plantations. The unskilled labor required is furnished by the prisons.

According to the report of Mr. Henry J. Matthews, Chief Forester, for the year ending March 31, 1903, there are five principal nurseries, known as Eweburn, Tapanni, Rotorua, Starborough and Haumer Springs, containing on March 31, 1903, respectively, 964,671, 2,531,640, 2,770,294, 862, 150, and 265,450 young trees, making a grand total of 7,394,205 trees; in addition, some trees were raised on the various plantations; the grand total raised on both nurseries and plantations from 1896 to March 31, 1903, was 11,649,423, of which total 3,936, 107 trees were raised in 1902-03. Many of these trees were transferred to eight plantations; the total area planted being 1,4381⁄2 acres, containing on March 31, 1903, 2,908, 156 trees (including 133,632 trees placed on Government reserves, the acreage not being given); of which 61934 acres, containing 1,165,404 trees, were set out in 1902-3. The total expenditures from September, 1896, to March 31, 1903, amounted to £37,691, while the trees in stock, tools, buildings, and value of all improvements is placed at £57,514, certainly a gratifying increase.

The best results in seedling trees were obtained from Abies Douglasii, Abies excelsa, Catalpa speciosa, Pinus Austriaca and Larix Europea.

The different plantations may be briefly described as follows:

Naseby Survey Paddock Plantation, in Otago, has a total area of 125 acres, of which 10534 acres has been planted, containing 288,505 trees. During the year the trees are said to have made excellent growth, the loss being about 2 per cent.

The Dusky Hill Plantation, in Otago, contains 845 acres; on 552 acres of which 1,228,588 trees have been planted. The growth of trees was quite satisfactory, notably the larch, many of which show over 30 inches of vertical growth for the season. The success of planting acorns in place was pronounced.

The Raincliff Plantation containing 20634 acres, on which are 50,000 trees, was leased for grazing purposes, but the trees are stated to have shown a good growth.

Haumer Springs Plantation has an area of 600

acres, 284 acres having been planted with 97,400 trees, all but 6,900 being set out in 1902-03 ; the older stock made a good growth.

The Whakarewarewa Plantation comprises 817 acres, of which 31734 acres have been planted with 615,423 trees. The loss in transplanting was about 4 per cent. The trees are reported as vigorous and hearty.

The Waiotapu Plantation contains 207 acres of young trees, the total number being 450,333. The loss was about 5 per cent.

The Kaingaroa Plantations of 25 acres have on them 44,275 young trees; all but 4 acres having been planted.

Work on the Conical Hills Plantation of 1,050 acres, and the Gimmerburn Plantation reserve of 420 acres, was started in 1903, but no trees had as yet been set out.

Mr. Matthews recommends the reservation of large areas for planting purposes, and also provision for acquiring picturesque spots on native lands.

TH

Westtown Forestry Notes.

HE small area from which the aspen was cleared in 1902 (see FOREST LEAVES, August, 1902) is now densely covered with a growth of sprouts from six to fifteen feet high. An interesting feature of this regeneration is that the sprouts are root-suckers, not stool shoots, as stump sprouts are properly called. Such suckers make stronger rooted trees, because they are not

we have an open growth of branchy and crooked trees. After many years of vigorous growth, as these approach maturity, they may make a nearly perfect cover again; but then it will be too late for nature to prune them into good timber trees.

In short, to get an evenly distributed regeneration after "clean cutting" chestnut and tulip, the gaps between the widely spaced mature trees must be filled with seedlings. The presence of dogwood makes this impossible. The dogwood is (by its slow growth and low value) a relatively worthless species seriously interfering with the reproduction of the lumber crop; hence it is a plant out of place in the wood lot,—a weed.

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The

Last spring we planted in an old neglected pasture 1800 white pine trees. These were purchased the year before, and had grown one year in our nursery. When set where they are to grow they were from six to eighteen inches in height. planting was done by boys and mattocks who opened the sod, and by other boys with trowels who set the trees and stamped the earth about them. The present condition of the trees is evidence that they were good trees and well plantedover 95 per cent. have survived the first season. Next spring we hope to extend the pinery by setting 10,000 more trees. from a western nursery.

These we get direct ALFRED S. HAINES.

National Forestry.

R. GIFFORD PINCHOT, Forester of the

coming from all parts of the root system, they cover a wider area than did the original stand.

I am very fond of the dogwood. There is no more beautiful ornamental tree native to our woods. Heretofore I have believed it as harmless as useless. [The great quantities of spindle blocks from this wood shipped to England are from the south, where the cornus does not grow so hard as here, and in consequence is less liable to "check" in seasoning. Except in very small quantities for mallets, there is only the cordwood market locally.] Just lately I have been impressed with. the idea that in our woodland the dogwood is a pernicious weed. Of all our tree species it is the most tolerant of shade. Under chestnut and tulip, it thrives. Where these are cut the stumps are far apart; some fail to sprout. The dogwood suckers promptly take possession of the intervening space, and completely shade out any desirable seedlings that have just started or may start. The scattered stools of chestnut and tulip soon tower above the dogwood; they then have no competition except among themselves, and, consequently,

his report for the year ending June 30, 1903. The great progress made in forestry during the year is dwelt upon, especially in the Western States, where the sentiment in favor of forest preservation is conspicuous.

The report states that:

"Decidedly the most important development of the year in forestry has been the awakening of the great lumber interests to the necessity for practical forestry and the hearty co-operation they have begun to give to the efforts of the Government for forest perpetuation.

"Only less important is the recent tendency of the railroads of the United States to consider the future of their timber-supply, and to take measures for its perpetuation. Railroads are among the greatest consumers of timber in the United States, and the preservation or destruction of vast areas of forest will depend on the attitude they assume toward this question, which is not less vital to them than to other users of wood.

"A marked feature of the year is the increase in State co-operation with the Bureau of Forestry.