PLAN FOR THE PIT-WOOD WORKING CIRCLE, RAITH ESTATE, 235 
An inspection of the Table shows at once that the stock in the 
middle-age classes is deficient, especially in that ranging from 
the 21st to the 30th year, and that tliere is a correspondingly 
large excess in the younger classes, especially in that of 5 years 
and under. If the distribution were not thus abnormal, the 
crop on one-fortieth part (equal 20 acres) of the total area would 
be felled during the current year, and a similar area would be 
felled in every succeeding year, until the whole of the ground 
had been cut over. But existing conditions, as indicated in the 
Table, evidently render that plan impossible; for if it were 
followed, the older woods would all be felled during the first 
11 years; and the oldest of the younger woods, having then 
attained an age of only 26 years, would not have developed 
sufficiently to fulfil the object of management. Hence it becomes 
necessary to spread the cutting of the older woods over an 
increased number of years, during which period the younger 
woods will have more nearly approached the desired age of 
40 years. It has therefore been decided to extend the cutting 
of the older woods over the first half (20 years) of the rotation, 
and to leave the younger woods to be cut during the second 
half-rotation, at the commencement of which the oldest of them 
will be 35 years of age. It would of course have been per- 
missible to increase this age by spreading the cutting of the 
older woods over a period longer than 20 years; but it was not 
considered necessary to do this. If, after the lapse of the first 
10 years, it does not seem likely that the oldest of the younger 
woods will be fit for felling in the 21st year of the rotation, the 
annual cutting-area for the remainder of the older woods must 
then be reduced, so as to make those woods last longer. 
It will be evident that under the arrangement herein pro- 
posed, the age-classes of the working circle will not be in a 
normal condition at the end of the first rotation. Indeed, they 
will not be normal even at the close of the second rotation; 
but they will then so nearly approach that condition that they 
may be treated as normal. The present irregular condition of 
the stock in regard to age-classes is not due to over-felling, but 
rather to the energy with which planting has been carried on 
during the last five years. 
ANNUAL FELLINGS IN THE OLDER Woops. 
The total area of the twenty-two older woods is 2354 aeres ; 
