268 REPORT ON THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATIONS. 



3 feet high. In all cases, before the trees which constitute the 

 crop, after being thinned, exceed 8 feet in height, as a rule, we 

 thin to a general distance of 7 to 8 feet apart, or, in other 

 words, reduce the crop to about 700 trees per acre when they 

 are from 7 to 8 feet high. This system of thinning possesses 

 several advantages, amongst which are, no injurious consequences 

 having resulted to the trees previous to being thinned. The 

 work of thinning is performed at a time when it can be done to 

 greatest advantage in point of selecting the standard trees, and 

 of doing the work at least expense, seldom exceeding 5s. per 

 acre ; also that the thinnings, on being cut and laid flat on the 

 ground, in a very short time rot out of sight, hence the general 

 untidiness often observable in young woods is prevented, and the 

 evil consequences believed to result from noxious gases generated 

 by decomposing wood are also obviated. 



First, Thinning of pine and fir plantations and forests, to 

 be done so as to confer the greatest amount of benefit to the 

 permanent crop, should be performed not when, but before the 

 side branches touch each other. 



Second, Thinning should not be deferred till the lower branches 

 begin to decay, but should be performed in order to prevent the 

 possibility of such occurring within the period of thinning- 

 operations. 



Third, The future object in view with the plantation must in 

 all cases determine the extent to which thinning should be done. 

 For example, a larch plantation grown with the object of being cut 

 down for fencing purposes and general estate repairs, at thirty to 

 thirty-five years planted, would not require to be thinned at any 

 time to over 6 feet apart ; whereas the same plantation, if in- 

 tended to stand till sixty years, and at that date to supply 

 sleepers, planking, and large scantling, would require to be • 

 thinned out to a general distance of 20 feet. 



Fourth, In thinning a shelter belt, the lowest ground on the 

 exposed side should be done first, and next in succession the 

 high ground on the same side. The high ground and most ex- 

 posed parts, though longer in being ready to thin, should, when 

 sufficiently advanced, be thinned to the same distance apart as 

 those upon the good ground were when of equal size. In thin- 

 ning the girth of the trees ought always to be considered and 

 attended to as well as the height. 



Fifth, As a rule in thinning, with a view to produce good sized 

 timber trees, the height of the tree in feet ought to correspond 

 with its girth in inches about 2 to 3 feet above ground. Trees 

 grown of these proportions will appear about the period when 

 thinning should be discontinued as if too much taper were upon 

 them. The circumstance, however, must here be borne in mind, 

 that as soon as thinning ceases the trees soon close together. 



