ON THE COMPARATIVE VALUE OF TIMBER GROWN IN BRITAIN. 441 



On No. 4 soil, at 30 years, G80 trees averaged 4 feet ; value at 

 6d. per foot, £6S. At 32 years, 280 trees sold for £32. At 40 

 years, 100 trees sold for £25. At 45 years, 300 trees averaged 

 18 feet; value at Gd. per foot, £135. At 48 years, 150 trees sold 

 for £82. At 60 years, 150 trees averaged 30 feet ; value at 8d. 

 per foot, £150. Total value of crop, £289. 



The result of our figures is, that the Larch is the most profitable 

 of all our forest trees, giving a return, under favourable circum- 

 stances, on No. 1 soil, of £484, 13s. 4d. per acre in 60 years, 

 or of £8, Is. 6d. per acre per annum. Even on indifferent soil, 

 such as No. 3, it gives a return of £5, Os. 4d. per acre per annum ; 

 a sum much in excess of any other kind of tree on that soil, which, 

 is not considered at all suitable for growing first-class larch. The 

 Scots Fir, among coniferous trees, is next to the larch as a profitable 

 timber tree ; on No. 1 soil giving a return in 60 years of 

 £5, 4s. 4d. per acre per annum ; and on the worst, or No. 3 soil, 

 a yearly return of £3, 18s. 4cl. On No. 2 soil. Spruce gives in the 

 same time £4, 17s. 4d. ; and on No. 4 soil. Silver Fir gives 

 £4, 16s. 4d. per acre per annum. 



Turning to hardwoods, we find the Ash the most valuable tree for 

 cultivation, giving a return in 60 years, in No. 1 soil, of £382, 

 or at the rate of £6, 7s. 4d. per acre per annum. The ash is closely 

 followed by the Sycamore, with £6, 3s. 8d. per acre ; and at a con- 

 siderable distance by the Black Italian Poplar and the Oak, with 

 respectively £5, lis. lOd. and £4, 18s. lOd. as their values per 

 acre per annum. English Elm gives £3, 7s. lOd. ; Birch, £3, 6s. ; 

 Spanish Chestnut, £3, 2s. ; Alder, £2, 19s. 8d. ; Beech, £2, 4s. 8d.; 

 and Wych Elm, £1, 19s. 6d., the lowest return of all ; each being 

 grown on the soil best suited for it. 



In growing hardwood trees it is an advantage to allow seedlings 

 and suckers to grow up, as soon as the older trees are sufficiently 

 thinned to admit light and air to them, so that eventually suc- 

 cessional crops are maintained to take the place of the matured 

 trees as they are removed for timber. 



In conclusion, I have only to add that the sizes of the trees 

 quoted in this essay are in accordance with a long experience and 

 close attention to the subject ; and although trees may grow faster 

 in some districts and slower in others, that does not aflfect the 

 results arrived at, as the ratio of growth in the various species is 

 always in the same proportion. 



