Download Full PDF - 28.09 MB - The Society of Irish Foresters

30 Irish ForestryThe closing of small, manually operated nurseries and theopening of large mechanised ones was begun in 19S7 and the changeover, except for a few small units which are still in use, was almostcompleted by 1961-62. The average size of the mechanisednurseries is 22ha. While the Work Study and Incentive BonusScheme was fully operative in 1961-62 it continued to maintainefficiency by setting standards of work and giving accurate workvalues and accurate measurement of work output. The operationsin which the main cost reductions have been made were weedingof seed beds and transplant lines. Table II shows the unit cost ofthese two operations for the years 1961-62 to 1971-72.Table 2Unit Cost for Weeding Seed Beds and Transplant Lines fo rOne Year during period 1961·62-197172.YearSeed Bedsyr. and 2 yrs . Transplant Lines1-IUnit Costs Unit Costs1in S.M.H. in S.M.H.!-----11961-62 I 463 1501962-63 426 791963-64 I 207 931964-65 313 991965-66 I 255 841966-67 ) 148 621967-68 171 581968-69 142 571969-70 I 105 501970-71 84 501971-72 90 44Herbicides have contrituted much to this reduction, especiallySimazine. The discontinuance of the use of farm yard manureexcept in one or two cases where .it was known that the manurewas relatively free from weed seeds has also been important. Mostimportant perhaps was Summer fallowing with successive rotations.This was carried out first by rotovating the soil at high speed to itsfull working depth to ensure fragmentation of roots of any perennialweeds suoh alsscutch grass, (Agrop.yron repens Beauv,) sheep'ssorrel (Rumex aceto~ella L.), etc. If the s.oil was dry it was roLledto speed up germination of weed seeds. As soon as weeds appearedit was rotovated to a depth of Scm which killed those weeds andbrought further weed seed to the surface. When these germinatedthe soil was again rotovated, this time to a depth of lOcm, and soon increasing the depth of each rotovation by Scm until the working