260 WASTE IN TIMBER-FELLING. [Aug. 



WASTE IN TIMBEB-FELLING. 



BY J. CHARLfiS KING, BULSTEODE, SLOUGH. 



(Plate II.) 



CAN trees grown for sale be made a commercial economy in 

 British woods? This question was prompted by a recent survey 

 of woods during bark-peeling. As knowledge is often epitomized by 

 a symbol, and demonstrated by a picture, the accompanying rough 

 sketches of oaks growing from " stubs " will supply answers to the 

 questions asked. The answers will be both " Yes " and " No." Fig. 1 

 is of a part of an oak growing on a " stub " or " stool " or " runt," as 

 it is variously termed in different parts of these^j islands. Fig. 2 

 shows two oaks growing from a " stub ; " all are what are technically 

 known to wood- wards as " thirds," ix. the tree-growths left on stubs 

 after two previous thinnings out, the first one at the tenth year ; the 

 other, the second, at the twentieth year ; and third, at the thirtieth 

 year, now illustrated by Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Fig. 1 gives the answer 

 " No ! " most emphatically. Fig. 2. indicates " Yes !" as plainly. 



The sketches are of trees grown in the home counties, with the 

 difference, that soil and position were much in favour of Fig. 1. 

 To say that one of the trees had been properly cut, and the other 

 had not, when the stubs were left for future tree-growth, would be to 

 give an answer which any tyro might venture to make ; but the 

 question is not practically answered. Again, Why was it not properly 

 cut ? A pictorial demonstration (Fig. 3) will show how Fig. 1 

 doubtless was cut thirty years previously, when the tree was felled. 

 The dotted line AB will indicate how this should have been cut, 

 close to the ground ; and then it would have produced Fig. 2, if 

 properly trimmed out at the first and second underwood " fall," 

 instead of Fig. 1, fit only for firewood. The tree which was 

 felled leaving the stub (Fig. 3) was deprived of its butt containing 2^ 

 cubic feet of the best timber, value 5s. at the lowest estimate. By 

 this wasteful method of cutting, the yearly loss on an extensive 

 forest would be enormous ; and still more so, where the old plan 

 of axe-felling is adhered to by the wood-wards. Fig. 4 illustrates 

 this waste of valuable timber, often to enable the wood- wards to make 

 more chips as a perquisite for firewood ; the stub being made almost 

 worthless, also, often comes within the category. The chopped end 

 of a tree is not reckoned when the timber is sold. This is another 

 loss. Now estimate the value of one or two trees from stub-growth 

 after thirty years, as shown by Fig. 2, at 10s. each, and compare with 

 the firewood, Fig. 1, worth lOd., and finally survey the wreck of what 

 might have been an ornamental and remunerative wood, and the 

 answer why some woods do not pay becomes obvious. 



