AS APPLICABLE IN PKACTICAL FOEESTHY, 201 



one containing 40 feet, but two trees containing only 10 feet 

 each are not so valuable as one containing 20 feet. 



The following is the system of thinning practised by the 

 writer, and which, after a trial of many years upon an extensive 

 scale, he finds attended with such favourable results as to inspire 

 him with confidence to recommend it to others : — 



No. 1 is an enclosure of 500 acres, and between six and twelve 

 years planted — the youngest part six and the oldest twelve. It is 

 situated between 500 and 800 feet above the level of the sea, 

 and covers both sides and top of the hill, which extends north 

 and south. The exposure is severe on all sides, but most so on 

 the north and east, which slopes towards the sea, which is distant 

 about four miles. On that side all evergreens, including the 

 Scots pine, are seriously injured by the sea air in winter. 



The plants are composed of Scots pine, larch, and a slight 

 mixture of Norway spruce and Silver fir. 



The quality of the soil and subsoil varies considerably, but 

 consists chiefly of a mixture of sand, clay, and gravel as the 

 surface soil, and gravel, less or more inclined to moor pan, as a 

 subsoil. The natural herbage consists of heath, some parts 

 whins, with a profusion of those grasses indigenous to such 

 soils. 



The ground was all well drained previous to planting, and all 

 well fenced, partly with turf dykes, partly with wire and posts, 

 and partly with wooden paling and posts. 



In consequence of the long interval between commencing to 

 plant and finishing it, difference of quality of soil and exposure, 

 there is a corresponding difference in growth all over the planta- 

 tion. In some parts the trees are over 15 feet high, while in 

 others they are scarcely as many inches. 



With such an extent of plantation before him the writer had 

 to consider well what course to pursue with the thinning. He 

 saw that to allow such an extensive plantation as that to grow 

 to any considerable height before thinning would be attended 

 with disastrous consequences ; and in order to avoid this, he 

 commenced work on all parts where the trees had attained 6 to 

 8 feet high, and cleared openings or shooting roads, as they are 

 termed. The roads are laid off 100 yards apart each way, 

 thus dividing the whole plantation into squares containing 

 10,000 square yards each. The roading was done by contract, 

 the open space specified to be 16 feet wide, and all trees, heath, 

 and whins to be cleared off and thrown clear of the sides at least 

 3 feet. The trees, heath, and wliins all to be kept separate, and 

 laid in small heaps amongst the growing trees in such a manner 

 as not to injure any of them. 



The trees and whins to be cut level witli the natural surface 

 of the ground, and all heath and other herbage to be mown with 



