INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT DEGREES OF THINNING ON BEECH. 117 



given in seven tables, of which Table I. occupies twenty pages, 

 and gives a complete statistical account of every area under 

 notice. 



The chief conclusions arrived at from these data are somewhat 

 as follows : — 



1. The growth of the a thinned areas was from 23 per cent, 

 to 3 per cent, less than that of the moderate or b thinned plots, 

 except in one instance, when it reached and slightly exceeded the 

 latter. On the average, it may be stated that the weak thinnings 

 resulted in 10 per cent, less growth than that of the moderate, 

 while strong thinnings showed an increase of from 3 per cent, to 

 35 per cent, over the latter, the smaller increase taking place, 

 however, only in the youngest wood. On the better localities, 

 at an age of sixty years and upwards, the increase of growth was 

 in proportion to the strength of the thinning. 



2. The main-crop thinning was observed on six main-areas, and 

 a special form of thinning carried out. The six areas were 

 arranged in two groups, in one of which the best stems (future 

 stems) were selected at an age of fifty to sixty years, with a view 

 to their equal distribution over the ground. The number of these 

 stems per hectare varied with the condition of the crop and soil, 

 in four plots being respectively 240, 176, 340, and 292. In the 

 other group the thinning was carried out without regard to equal 

 distribution, but all diseased, badly-shaped, forked trees, etc., re- 

 moved, and the dead wood taken out. The number of niain- 

 crop stems is greater with this form than with the other, being 

 1404 and 1412 per hectare respectively. But while in the 

 previous form of thinning the future stems remain (unless 

 circumstances arise to warrant their removal) until the crop is 

 mature, in the latter form the number of main-crop stems 

 diminishes with each thinning. . 



Comparing the results of these two forms of thinning, the one 

 last described deserves the preference. The process of natural 

 selection is carried on to a later age with the beech than with the 

 oak, and at an age of fifty or sixty years, the trees most likely to 

 make the best timber cannot be selected with certainty, and in 

 large plantations their selection is too tedious an operation in 

 practice ; whereas every wood-cutter understands the taking out 

 of bad stems. Besides this, the sudden exposure of the crowns in 

 the first method renders uncertain the clearing of the stems, as the 

 side branches take longer to kill off in a shade-bearer like the 



