president's address and discussion. 97 



it is equally desirable that permanent records should be kept 

 concerning them, such as age when cut, species, pure or in 

 mixture, height, cubic contents, etc. Such information is of the 

 greatest value for the future management of the new crops and 

 for the purpose of forestry in general. 



"To pass on now to another subject, namely, replanting, I 

 feel convinced that in devoting some time to a discussion of this 

 important question a very useful purpose will be served. I 

 therefore venture to make the following suggestions : — Wherever 

 replanting is to take place a well thought-out but simple planting 

 scheme should be prepared. The object being that the planting 

 should be carried out in such a way, that it would fall naturally 

 into line with a future working-plan. In only too many cases in 

 the past plantations have been formed in a too haphazard 

 manner. We should try to avoid having bits of young 

 plantations surrounded or mixed up with portions of old woods, 

 which must inevitably disappear within a few years, leaving the 

 young trees prematurely and unduly exposed to wind and 

 storms. 



" I would like to go further than this and to see a simple 

 working-plan prepared for the future management of the woods 

 on every estate, and even a common or mutual working-plan 

 for two or more estates, where the march lines may divide into 

 several portions an area which should otherwise be uniformly 

 treated as a definite planting unit. 



" We may now pass on to consider some points regarding the 

 precautions necessary in the choice of species according to soil 

 and climate. 



" The selection of the most suitable species according to the 

 concrete conditions of the area is of vital importance, and is 

 at the same time a very difficult question to answer off-hand. 

 Certain fundamental facts have to be noted, such as the growth 

 and condition of the trees on or near the area in question and 

 the nature of the flora. Elevation, aspect, and shelter are also 

 determining factors, while the soil, though important, is not 

 necessarily the final deciding factor. The choice of species, 

 therefore, involves a special or critical survey as distinct from a 

 flying survey. This means a considerable amount of detailed 

 study of the area, and as yet few areas have been critically 

 examined. Under the circumstances, therefore, we should, as 

 far as possible, stick to our best-known trees, i.e. the commoner 



VOL. XXXI. PART II. G 



