Establishment and Tending of Timber Plantations \ 63 



growth and the crowns have become unnaturally small and in- 

 crement in diameter is slow. If, on the other hand, the wood 

 be judiciously thinned the trees will remain in a healthy con- 

 dition, and increase in diameter more rapidly, forming cylindrical 

 stout stems. 



A special word should be said about the treatment of the 

 margin trees. In the case of conifers these should be heavily 

 thinned from the commencement in order to induce lateral braches 

 and the development of sturdy root systems. By this means a 

 thick curtain of branches is formed on the outside to protect the 

 interior from the impetuosity and dessicating effects of winds. Too 

 often do we find the margin trees left unthinned in the mistaken 

 idea that they wall remain dense. On the contrary, they become 

 drawn up and defeat the very object for which they were left 

 dense. In the case of Eucalypts, owing to the natural tendency 

 of the genus to form straight clean stems even when on the mar- 

 gins of plantations or in the open, no amount of heavy thinning 

 in early youth appears to induce a strong protective screen. In 

 their case it is best to keep the first two or three outside rows 

 continually coppiced on a short rotation. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS TREES. 



We now pass on to consider the various classes of trees and 

 their suitability for different purposes and localities. 



There are two large natural groups into which forest trees 

 fall, viz: the Conifers and the broad-leaved species. 



CONIFERS. 



In this group we find the Pines, the Cypresses, the Junipers, 

 the Cedars, the Callistrises and the Cryptomeria of Japan. They 

 all produce light, soft, yet strong, timber which usually present 

 little difficulty in handling and seasoning. 



Pines. 



The Pines produce the deals of commerce which are in such 

 great demand for building and constructional purposes. They 



