250 REPORT ON THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATIONS. 



at present exists, while the hardwoods would not only have 

 stood one-fourth closer together upon the ground if grown un- 

 mixed, but would on an average have been of at least one-third 

 more value. This is exemplified in several groups of pine, firs, 

 and hardwoods growing in various parts upon the same estate 

 unmixed ; their great superiority over others that are mixed is 

 quite apparent even to those unacquainted with woods. Indeed 

 a case in point is to be found connected with this very plantation. 

 At the southern extremity of it there is growing a group of hard- 

 woods, which with the disadvantage of being lifted out of the 

 plantation when 10 or 12 feet in height, and transplanted where 

 they now grow, are at the present time fully one-third larger 

 than those from amongst which they were lifted. There appears 

 no other assignable reason for this decided superiority, except 

 that the group referred to were unencumbered with pine and firs, 

 and the ground kept clean. 



In consequence of the whole of the plantation never having 

 been thinned regularly throughout at one time for many years, 

 and of no actual account having been taken of the thinnings 

 either before or after being cut, it is only from private notes, 

 taken at various times, that the writer has been enabled to arrive 

 at the conclusions above stated, and which from this plantation 

 having always been regarded as a model one, he has thought it 

 the more essential that he should be minute in the various 

 matters of detail. 



The purposes to which the thinnings were appropriated were 

 as follows : — Larch, when small, for net stakes ; when larger, for 

 paling stakes ; and when further advanced, for gate-posts of 

 various descriptions, repairs of steadings, &c. 



Spruce were used for purposes similar to the larch (save net 

 stakes), Scots pine and the various hardwoods (ash excepted) 

 were, till of late years, used for fencing-posts or fuel. The root- 

 cuts of ash, from twenty years planted, were used for axe 

 and pick handles, &c, for which they were well adapted. Clay 

 soil like this invariably produces ash of first-class quality, so 

 long as it continues in a state of rapid growth; but whenever 

 this ceases, if ash is allowed to stand, the grain of the wood 

 very soon becomes short and brittle. The tops and inferior 

 parts were used for fuel, for which purpose ash is deservedly 

 esteemed. No wood burns better in the green state, particularly 

 during frost. 



A thinning of the plantation being done during the summer 

 of 1864, an auction sale was called on 30th July, when the 

 thinnings disposed of realised the following prices : — 



Peeled oaks, per dozen, pit prop size, . . . 12s. 



Ash, per dozen, useful size, ..... 24s. 



Elm, per do. do., 18s. 



