142 transactions of royal scottish arboricultural society. 



Beech Woods. 



On the Continent beech woods are nearly always reproduced 

 by means of mast shed by trees left standing on the ground. 

 The beech is specially suitable for this treatment, because the 

 seedlings and young plants, being very sensitive to injury from 

 frost, are sheltered by the parent trees. The last mentioned are 

 gradually felled as the young crop requires more and more light 

 for its normal development, until at about the tenth year from 

 the springing up of the seedlings, the last of the old trees are 

 removed. 



Very dense crops result from the natural sowing, yet no effort 

 is made to thin them until about the thirtieth year. Even at 

 80 years of age the trees stand very closely together, with tall, 

 straight shafts. After this age is reached, heavier thinnings take 

 place to bring about the production of seed, and to prepare the 

 ground for its reception. 



Groups of Various Species. 



Blanks in older woods are frequently made the centres of 

 regeneration by planting them with a variety of species. Very 

 often so-called exotics are given a start in this way, and for some 

 years they benefit by the shelter afforded by the old wood. 

 Amongst the commonest of these non-indigenous trees are 

 Japanese larch, Douglas fir, red oak, white American ash, 

 Banks' pine, and several species of silver fir. 



Many of these, and others which I have not mentioned, are 

 growing well upon suitable sites, and will no doubt produce 

 excellent timber in the course of time. Professor Schwappach, 

 who, as you know, has made special investigation into this 

 matter, is most hopeful of the growth of several north-west 

 American species. The Douglas fir is exceeding even the 

 fondest expectations, and not a few of the Cupressus and Thuya 

 genera (coming both from the east and from the west) are 

 proving hardy and growing rapidly ; Pinus Banksiana fulfils 

 a useful purpose upon the poorest, driest sand, while the white 

 American ash flourishes even where there is stagnant water. 



In some cases the Japanese larch has grown 34 feet in 11 

 years, but it needs a somewhat sheltered position and better soil 

 than the European species. Nor is it entirely free from attack 

 by " larch disease," for I found, the Japanese species with un- 

 mistakable "blisters" in Chorin forest district. 



