108 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Canton des Epinais, there is an oak called by the young folk 

 the chene d, V unite. It is 39 inches in diameter, with a timber 

 length of 66 feet, and therefore contains 530 cubic feet of first- 

 class timber, worth nearly £40. 



A high forest of pure oak (Robur) must be properly thinned if 

 it is to come up to expectations. The strangled crowns become 

 very marked. By removing these and a few others that are 

 simply overcrowded or supererogatory, the growth of the better 

 trees is wonderfully improved. These will acquire diameters 

 equal to one-fifteenth or one-twentieth of the timber length, 

 instead of being limited to one-thirtieth, one-fortieth, or even 

 one-fiftieth. This is all profit, both in the present produce of 

 the thinnings and in the future higher value of the timber per 

 foot. One hundred oaks of 31 inches diameter and 49 feet long 

 would give 13,250 cubic feet timber, and be worth an immense 

 sum. Is not this the proper object in view in these high forests ? 



In course of time an undergrowth usually springs up which is 

 encouraged by the thinnings. Whatever it may be, it will help 

 to keep the soil light, in good condition, porous, moist, and sub- 

 stantial ; while it will be all the better should the undergrowth 

 differ in composition, containing instead of oaks, for instance, 

 holly, hazel, hornbeam, beech, etc. But these latter will rise up 

 under the light cover of the oaks until they interfere with the 

 good growth of these latter. Even under cover they seem to 

 have the advantage and to struggle successfully. I have noticed 

 this in several forests, notably in Fontainebleau, south of the 

 Croix Saint Herem. It is therefore advisable, when the thinning 

 comes due, to cut back at the same time all such strong-growing 

 species like beech, and especially hornbeam. Possibly their roots 

 may damage the oaks as much in the soil as their crowns do in 

 the air. I suggest this point for further inquiry. 



This brings us to the study of the mixed high forest of oak and 

 beech. The difficulty of bringing up or even maintaining the oak 

 in this mixture is only too real ; but forewarned is forearmed, for 

 we have the means of overcoming it. I have in this place already 

 indicated, in my study of natural regeneration, the way to obtain 

 oak seedlings among the beeches. That question needs no further 

 mention. The regeneration fellings will be hardly finished before 

 there is a mass of saplings in which it is not very difficult to 

 throw back the beech, but it must not be cut back to the ground, 

 but only to the height of 5 or 6 feet, Thin weeding must be 



