96 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



regeneration, about four secondary fellings are made, including 

 the final felling. 



The object of these fellings is to give more light to the young 

 crop, and to bring it gradually into the open. The mother-trees, 

 whilst standing, give some protection to the young crop, and 

 continue to regenerate bare patches. 



The first secondary felling is not carried out at any definite 

 time, but depends entirely on the condition of the young crop. 

 If by bad luck with regard to the seeding felling, the ground did 

 not become fully stocked with seedlings, another seed-year must 

 be awaited before initiating further fellings. These fellings are 

 carried out in the same manner as the seeding felling, but trees 

 are felled wherever the young crop requires more light. The 

 final fall is the last of these secondary fellings, and in it all the 

 remaining overwood, often consisting chiefly of oak, is felled. 



During the time of regeneration the wood has been open, and 

 consequently all sorts of weeds, sallows, birch, and aspen make 

 their appearance. Bare spots and temporary tracks remain 

 unregenerated, and these are planted up, after the final thinning, 

 with oaks five or six feet in height. If during the secondary 

 fellings large blanks occur, these may be at once planted up, 

 thereby giving the oak a start. The number of oaks planted on 

 a felling area is about four hundred per acre. 



The next operation is the process of cleaning the young wood. 

 This consists in cutting away the sallows, birch, and aspens, and 

 thinning out everything, including beech, that interferes with the 

 young oaks. The first cleaning is executed by the brigadiers 

 and guards alone, after which the guards have each twenty men 

 under them to assist in the following cleanings. The cleanings 

 are made quite irregularly, and just as often as is thought 

 necessary by the inspector, generally every four years. For this 

 work money has to be obtained from the Government, and the 

 guards receive an extra rod. per day. The produce of 

 cleanings is brought out of the thicket, and, if possible, sold ; 

 but the price is frequently so small that cleanings may be defined 

 as thinnings, from which no profit can be obtained. 



Such cuttings go on until the wood is twenty-five years old. 

 Henceforth, and until the seedling stage again comes round, 

 thinnings are made every ten years. According to the age, the 

 Government value the thinnings at so much per stere, that is, 

 so much per cubic metre stacked (35 cubic feet), and the 



