372 THE WIND AND THE WOODS. [March 



Widely different would be the state of affairs if planting had 

 been so carried out at successive periods, as to have found its ex- 

 tension to leeward — that would be in the great majority of districts 

 towards the east. Then the sequence of compartments would have 

 their timber diminishing regularly in height and age toward the 

 east — -or, to be general, to leeward. Of course the oldest timber 

 would naturally have to be felled first, and consecutive fellings 

 advancing to leeward could hardly be avoided. The consequence 

 would be that each felling would let tlie westerly wind — or the 

 prevalent storm wind — on to wood which was not prepared to 

 withstand it, and each felling would be succeeded by disastrous 

 windfall with havoc, confusion, and loss. 



Thus we see that if the tops of the trees or woods form a stair 

 descending towards the windy quarter, all is well with reference to 

 the effect of the wind. If the tree-tops form, approximately speak- 

 ing, an inclined plane — inclined towards the direction of storms — 

 matters are most convenient for regular working and felling, and 

 the trees are most secure against the winds. An inclined plane 

 with a contrary inclination or series of stejjs formed by different 

 heights of wood descending to leeward, shows a most unmanageable 

 state of matters, and forebodes that more trees will be levelled by 

 the wind than by the axe and saw. 



In planting then a large area — larger than can be planted in one 

 season, the first portion undertaken should be the leeward side of 

 the ground — that is, on the flat, in most districts the eastern side. 

 In originating woods it has to be considered what will be the result 

 of the operations after eighty or ninety years. 



One aim of forestry in woods whicli are to be permanently 

 worked for economic purposes, is to secure an equal proportion 

 and appropriate arrangement of all the different classes of wood 

 with reference to age. Difference of age expresses or manifests 

 itself in difference of height, and the forester should gradually work 

 to bring the heights of his woods where possible into series or 

 sequences descending towards the windy quarter. He need not, 

 however, aim at bringing an extensive forest into one universal 

 all-embracing series. We have already seen that ninety-year-old 

 wood may be immediately to windward of wood thirty years of age 

 without disadvantage. We may therefore conclude that, with a 

 cycle or revolution under a hundred years, an abrupt interruption of 

 the sequence to windward by a difference in age of sixty to eighty 

 or more years is of no disadvantage, affording a convenient termina- 

 tion of one series and commencement of another, or occurring within 

 one single series. An extensive forest should be arranged in several 

 different series, each comprehending as far as possible all classes of 



