44^ Forestry Quarterly. 



Larch, Ash, etc. This is always a mistake and particularly so in 

 this soil as such a quantity of grass is produced that the cultures 

 become infested with mice during winter which destroy the young 

 plants. In addition, under such circumstances the danger from 

 frost is increased. 



Owing to the configuration of the ground many frost holes are 

 to be found in these forests due to the fact that the air in winter 

 is almost wind still. The Oaks therefore have in such places 

 often suffered from frost cracks, and hence also owing to natural 

 selection we find frost hardy species such as Hornbeam prevail- 

 ing. 



Another mistake which has been very frequent during the last 

 few years is the leaving of young or middle-aged Oaks as over- 

 holders over the naturally regenerated Beech stands with the idea 

 of keeping them for the end of the next rotation. This is a very 

 great mistake as such Oaks become almost immediately covered 

 with watersprouts and produce bud and knotty timber. In ad- 

 dition such trees have been found to attract the May beetle (Meio- 

 lontha vulgaris), become stagheaded and lose nearly all their in- 

 crement. 



The market conditions should be good in these forests as they 

 are very favorably situated with regard to the large towns, never- 

 theless nearly all the Beech is converted into firewood. Only an 

 absurdly small percentage of workwood is at present produced, 

 but on the other hand the firewood prices are extremely high. 



In conclusion, we may add that the most suitable way to treat 

 these forests would be to recognize three different quality classes, 

 or rather three different sub-types. The best site class should be 

 reserved for Oak, as this species requires a better soil, more light 

 and a longer rotation than Beech or most of the Conifers. The 

 next site class should be retained for Beech, where natural re- 

 generation of that species is possible, the fail places being planted 

 up with conifers. Lastly the poorest soils, those where natural 

 regeneration of Beech has failed or is impossible, and frost holes, 

 should be planted up with conifers. 



Not only the soil, but the present condition of the stands, will 

 force the bringing in of conifers ; for instance, on site classes not 

 quite good enough for Oak but where that species and Hornbeam 



