106 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Which stems are to be cut in thinning the pole-crop 1 Those 

 which are troubling the finest trees are naturally indicated. 

 They are easily recognised, and must be removed gradually, one 

 at a time, long before they are dominated. Thus, the crowns of 

 the stems of the future get the best of the open air above, while 

 their roots are freed from the struggle with those of the trees 

 removed. 



M. Gruinier (in the Revue des Eaux et Forets for 10th April 

 1896) has indicated that in a pure spruce crop the trees to come 

 out are those with narrow crowns. " Etrique'es," from strictce, 

 seems to mean "narrow by reason of crowding." But, if all the 

 narrow crowns are removed, there will be great risk of interrupt- 

 ing, impoverishing, and ruining a crop, however complete it may 

 have been. Let us, therefore, say that the more aggressive 

 among the narrow crowns are to be removed. Actually, in 

 dealing with the operation of thinning, what one has most to 

 guard against is excessive zeal. In trying to do too well there is 

 risk of doing very badly; one must know how to take sufficient 

 time over the operation. This is the conclusion come to a few 

 years ago, by a friend and myself, when discussing matters under 

 the young wood of Petite Fravelle, to the west of the pre de la 

 Messe, where I had watched over its birth and its rapid growth 

 in the early years. The suiplus stems having become numerous, 

 it would have been an interesting task to eliminate a few of 

 those most hurtful to their neighbours, and it appears to me 

 that a forester who once carries out a successful operation in 

 such a case ought not to be diffident of his ability to do the 

 same in any other conifer forest, and take an enjoyable pleasure 

 over it. 



Among the silver firs is it not far easier 1 ? Those that are 

 suppressed persist on and on for a very long time in the under 

 wood ; those that dominate gradually enlarge their heads ; the 

 surplus crowns become deformed and condemn themselves. Add 

 a few diseased, injured, or other hopeless stems, and the thinning 

 goes by itself ; any subordinate accustomed to conifers could do 

 it. Then the admixture of beech is a great assistance from its 

 adaptability and general utility in aiding to complete the crop. 

 Similarly, matters are simplified if there are silver firs among the 

 spruces; each silver fir will become a mighty patriarch, sur- 

 rounded by the spruces, which derive from it both support and 

 fresh moisture in the soil. For further study of thinnings in 



