Establishment and Tending of Timber Plantations 157 



ches, etc.," and, Mr. Carlson might have added, according to 

 the conditions obtaining on the area to be afforested. 



From the above it will be evident that it is not possible to lay 

 down certain fixed espacements — the espacement for each stand 

 must be determined according to the various factors involved. 

 As a general rule Eucalypts may be planted at wider espace 

 ments than conifers. For convenience in estimating the number 

 of plants required per acre at different espacements the follow- 

 ing table is appended: — 



The number of plants required per morgen can be calculated 

 from the above table by multiplying the number of trees per 

 acre by 2.1165 or 2y, i.e., by the number of acres in one 

 morgen. 



The question might be asked: Why are such close espacements 

 necessary at all; why cannot the trees be planted wide apart in 

 order to give them more room from the start for development 

 and in order to do away with subsequent thinning operations? 

 This question goes to the very root of sylviculture and requires 

 brief explaiiation. The veiy marked contrast in the habit of 

 growth between isolated trees and trees growing in plantation 

 form is evident to all, but may be there are some who have not 

 paused to think why this should be so. All trees require light 

 for their proper development, some to a greater extent than others, 

 but v^thout it trees cannot grow. The object of commercial 



