136 The Journal of Forestry. 



for ornament, and only but a few roosting trees, if profit is the sole object. 

 On such soils draining is seldom required, but should be strictly attended 

 to where it is necessary. 



The land should be trenched, and the rows 42 inches wide, and 48 fi-om 

 plant to plant, taking 3,180 plants; if timber is determined upou, then 

 every eighth plant in every ninth row, 43 plants, should be substituted 

 by whatever timber trees are desired. Chestnut grows rather slowly at 

 first, therefore three crops of carrots can be got ; two drills a foot apart 

 betwixt the rows of trees, taken in a different direction each year. The 

 cultivation and manuring will be the same as for potatoes, the seed much 

 less expensive, also the labour; therefore £11 per acre amply covers it. 



From 15 to 20 tons per acre ought to be grown, worth as horse or cow 

 food 25s.; and for culinary use double that price per ton, leaving at least 

 £8 profit, and the land well fallowed each of the three years, thus leaving 

 the land all that can be desired as to manure and cultivation for the 

 development of the plantation. 



On marsh land, willows and alder as underwood, with ash, black poplar, 

 <5e;c., as timber trees; on poor, cold soils, black birch for underwood, with 

 oak, Scotch and Corsican pines for timber, will succeed satisfactorily. 



When underwood is required for fencing, hurdle-making, &c., a greater 

 distance has to be allowed betwixt the plants, because a growth of from 

 16 to 18 years is required ; therefore the rows should be 62 inches apart, 

 and the plants 72 inches, taking 1,540' plants ; also a larch planted in 

 every second space of every second row, taking 385 plants. Other timber 

 trees for the ultimate plantation must be substituted, instead of every 

 third larch plant, in every third row of larch, making 43 plants of timber 

 trees of the kinds desired. Underwood of this description should realize, 

 at eighteen years' growth, from £20 to £40, leaving all the larch and 

 timber trees ; the next fall, cutting down half of the larch, the rest being 

 gradually thinned out, leaving the underwood timber trees in possession. 



I thought these few details might help to induce owners of plantations, 

 and those about to plant, to turn them to the best purpose by adopting 

 the most profitable arrangement, and when planting to see that it is well 

 done, which must pay best. 



There are large areas of cold clays and light sandy soils that would pay 

 much better where there is a market for underwood, managed as before 

 stated, than they do for agricultural use. I know plantations of chestnut, 

 on sandy soil of moderate fertility, that give an average return of £40 

 €very tenth year, and are now realizing 10s. per acre per annum as pheasant 

 shootings. Chestnut, larch, willow, and ash 14-feet hop-poles are now 

 making from 24s. to 30s. per 100, and 16-feets from 34s. to 40s. Birch, 

 alder, maple, and sycamore, 15 to 20 per cent, less, and hornbeam, oak, 

 &c., about 30 per cent. less. 



In Kent, well-managed plantations frequently realize by auction from 

 £50 to £60 per acre as they stand, on poor sandy soil. The expenses are, 

 cleaning out the drains, mending roads, and filling up after each cutting 

 where plants have failed. 



