290 TBEES ; THEIR FORMS AND [Feb., 



stems. It is not denied that contiguity kills side .growth ; neither is 

 it argued that the death of certain branches at an early stage in the 

 growth of a tree does not impart quality to its timber in a way that 

 is not compatible with the presence of all its branches throughout all 

 its stages. AVe assert the reverse ; we argue the opposite. Conti- 

 guity does kill side branches, and the early death of these branches 

 is a guarantee that the timber of that part of the stem will be of 

 superior quality; but the lessening of attraction to side growth 

 means straightness and length of stem. Checking and killing mean 

 good quality of timber. Contiguity has thus a double function. Our 

 estimate of how trees are affected by it is, there is reason to fear, 

 very imperfect, and — if forestry is to advance and hillsides be 

 gladdened and beautified and made more productive to their owners and 

 to the community — must be greatly modified. Such questions as 

 ' At what distance one from anothei should I plant my trees ? ' 

 ' At what age should I begin to thin them ? ' ' When is the best 

 time to prune them, and how should I proceed in the work ? ' and 

 many others, if asked of tw^enty different individuals would receive 

 twenty different answers. Why, in regard to almost any question 

 of tree culture, one culturist cannot converse frankly with another 

 culturist for five consecutive minutes till a difference of opinion, 

 expressed or unexpressed, arises between them. To expect that such 

 a state of matters shall cease while the effect of contiguity, or, in 

 other words, the management of light, is either imperfectly under- 

 stood or wilfully ignored would be to expect too much. That the 

 day is at hand, however, when this all-important matter shall have 

 due recognition is as certain as that to-morrow comes after to-day ; 

 and that many of the vexed questions of sylviculture will thereafter 

 cease to exist is also as certain as that yesterday gave place to 

 to-day. 



Evidently, we have here a great principle, so great that we cannot 

 touch even the hem of its garment without its character being 

 manifested. But how shall we approach it ? Not through British 

 forestry : its methods are too artificial. Nor through French forestry: 

 its peculiar excellence ceases when the floors of its old forests have 

 been carpeted anew with seedlings, and its doctrines are as deaf as 

 others when naked hillsides cry for clothing, and bleak moors for 

 shelter and warmth. Here again we recognise no guide other than 

 Nature, Nature's best forest.-:; are all large ; her best timber trees are 

 grown close to each other. She kills by shade what has served her 

 purpose, and shelters and preserves what continues to do service. To 

 accomplish that purpose nothing is too valuable to sacrifice, nothing 

 too worthless to cherish. Thousands of seedlings must perish, that 

 ten good trees may grow. Fifty good trees must die prematurely, 



