238 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The question was considered whether, seeing that the average 
annual felling-area was only 114 acres, the fellings should be 
made biennially instead of annually, in which case, of course, the 
average felling-area would be 23 acres. But it was thought 
better to adhere to annual fellings ; and this for several reasons, 
the chief of which is the great importance of providing pit-wood 
regularly for the mines, so that their owners may come to rely 
on Raith as a source of supply. Were it not for this considera- 
tion, the yield might be taken periodically instead of annually, 
the usual fellings being postponed for a year or two, as might be 
suggested by a temporary fall in prices. Similarly, the yield might 
be anticipated to take advantage of unusually high prices; but 
in the latter case there could be no more cutting until the felling 
account had been adjusted. It may here be added that should, 
unfortunately, any considerable number of trees be thrown by 
wind on ground not included in the felling-area of the year, 
or should unforeseen fellings have been made in consequence of 
injuries by fire or otherwise, a corresponding reduction in the 
area of the current fellings should be effected, in order to adjust 
the felling account. Fellings will always be commenced on the 
side opposite to that from which the prevailing strong winds 
blow ; and successive annual cuttings will proceed against wind, 
so that, in any wood, the trees felled last will be those on the 
windward side. The fellings will thus proceed, as a general 
rule, from E. or N.E. to W. or 8.W. But where the whole of 
a block is not felled in a single year, strips of wood will be left 
standing on all margins, and these will be removed with the 
fellings of the last year in that block. 
In the case of woods stocked with conifers, the crops will be 
clean-felled ; but where hardwoods form the main crop, or where 
trees of those species are found scattered through coniferous 
woods, such of them as are likely to improve sufficiently by 
remaining throughout a second rotation will be left standing. 
These trees will usually be isolated, and they will not interfere 
with the new crop, especially if it be of spruce ; but where they 
stand in groups, so as to form too dense a cover, the ground 
under them will not be planted. (See Appendix B, No. 16, 
Clunieden, b.) 
FELLINGS IN THE YOUNGER Woops. 
The total area of the younger woods is 573} acres ; and since 
