1884.] LEAF CANOPY AND PRUNTNG. 105 



Beech, and opportunity was thus afforded for extensive experiments 

 with undergrowth by sowingBeech-nuts. Many compartments of thirty- 

 five to forty year Pines, which had been severely handled by the wind, 

 were submitted to this treatment. After removal of the windfalls, the 

 degrees of closeness in the covert were decidedly irregular. By 

 gradual thinnings, following upon the undersowing, this irregularity 

 was corrected, and eventually excellent results have been obtained. 

 With regard to these after-lightings, it may be given as a rule, that 

 tliey should be carried out gradually by means of repeated thinnings 

 at intervals of between three and five years, reaching such a degree 

 that within twenty years after undersowing the distribution of the 

 remaining trees, about 200 per English acre, Avill admit of their 

 permanence till maturity — perhaps in their 120th year. The yield 

 of ordinary clearings of the Pine coverts in this district, at 1 20 years, 

 of age, on sandy soils of the third-rate quality, varies between five 

 and six thousand cubic feet per English acre, and the percentage 

 fetching good timber prices, unless railway sleepers are wanted 

 fluctuates between 35 and 40 per cent, of the solid contents. Thin- 

 nings may be reckoned to add about 33 per cent., raising the total 

 l)ulk yielded to about seven thousand cubic feet, giving an average 

 yearly growth of about 58 cubic feet per English acre for the whole 

 period of 120 years. How great will be the yield at maturity in the 

 open Pine coverts with underplanting cannot yet be established by 

 actual returns of fellings ; but there is good reason for calculating that, 

 including thinnings, they will represent an average yearly growth of 

 100 cubic feet per English acre during 120 years, or nearly double 

 that of the other .coverts. The increase in the girth of the Pines is 

 ■especially remarkable If, besides, the returns from the under- 

 covert be added, it will be evident that the underplanted coverts 

 represent a considera])lY higher value than the others. According to 

 the accounts of cultural expenses, the average outlay for under- 

 sowing the Beech-nuts was about 10s. 3d. per English acre. Many 

 instructive details have had to be omitted ; but the above particulars 

 may possibly convey some idea of this rather new contrivance. 



^Sorae such method of underplanting or undersowing might be 

 advantageous for raising coverts which are to depend on artificial 

 pruning, and for conserving the soil under those kinds of wood which 

 lire very necessitous of light, such as the Larch, Ash, and Oak. 



In the Field, of the 17th November, a lamentable account is given 

 of the decadence of the Oak, Ash, Spruce, and Larch in South York- 

 shire, in the smoky district of Sheffield and Barnsley. It is matter of 

 legitimate curiosity whether a thick undersowing or underplanting 

 Avith Beech or some shade-endurinu' wood miuht not revive some of 



