242 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTTTRAL SOCIETY. 



The general rule followed in thinning was to remove all 

 mature trees, with such as were diseased, injured, or misshapen, 

 and would not improve sufficiently to warrant their heing left 

 standing throughout the rotation of the spruce, that is for a 

 period of forty years. In the denser parts, however, which 

 occupied but a small proportion of the area, under-planting 

 was not contemplated ; and here fewer trees were taken 

 out, the object being to leave the cover as complete as 

 possible. 



After this thinning, the greater part of the area carried a 

 light crop of from 40 to 60 hardwoods to the acre; and these 

 were carefully pruned to a height of about 16 feet from the 

 ground, all branches under 3 inches in diameter being cut off 

 close to the stem ; the spruce were then introduced, 2-year-l-year 

 plants being pitted at 4 feet 3 inch intervals (2400 to the 

 acre). 



An area of 1700 acres on the estate has now (in 1900) been 

 treated on this principle. The oldest of these spruce plantations, 

 450 acres in extent, and planted during the season of 1893-94, 

 has already attained a height of 12 feet, and, growing vigorously, 

 presents a remarkably healthy appearance. After the lapse of 

 forty years, the spruce will be cut for pit-props, and the remaining 

 hardwood standards will be dealt with as may then appear 

 expedient. 



In order to carry out the fellings of spruce, the forest, which 

 will bear an even-aged under-crop of that species, will be divided 

 into four blocks; and, to avoid risk of damage by insects, through 

 felling in successive years on adjacent compartments, the cuttings 

 will be arranged as follows : — 



First Year in Block A, 

 Second Year in Block B, 

 Third Year in Block C, 

 Fourth Year in Block D ; 



after which they will recommence in Block A, so that there 

 will be a clear interval of four years between two successive 

 cuttings in any block. 



Where the young spruce may be interfered with by coppice- 

 shoots, already existing, or springing up as a result of the thinning, 

 they will have to be pi'otected by cutting back the coppice. In 

 similar woods, where the soil was not considered good enough 



