PINE AND BEECH FORESTS IN NORMANDY. 83 



and intermediate yields have been kept for several generations 

 past. 



With regard to Table A, which gives the material and financial 

 yield of an acre of Scots pine {Pi/uts silvestris) grown on a rota- 

 tion of about 80 years, it is necessary to note that the figures 

 given represent the actual average results obtained over con- 

 siderable areas and not " normal " results as given in yield- 

 tables. The forest from which the figures were obtained is 

 situated on the banks of the river Seine, and varies in altitude 

 from about 100 to 250 feet above sea-level ; the soil is sandy, 

 overlying a calcareous formation. The customary method of 

 formation is assisted natural regeneration on the shelter- 

 wood system, which accounts for the yield-figures at the age 

 of 75 and 80 years. The forest is very conveniently situated 

 for the purposes of disposal of produce, being on the outskirts 

 of a very large industrial city, and is well supplied with metalled 

 roads. The timber produced is clean and well grown but 

 probably of lower average diameter than similar-aged pine 

 in Great Britain. The cost of formation is taken at j£i per 

 acre, and the annual expenses (including supervision but not 

 administration) work out at 2s. per acre in excess of annual 

 receipts. 



Table B gives the yield in material and money of an acre 

 of beech (fiagus sylvatica) grown on about 190 years' rotation. 

 Here again the figures represent the actual results of practice 

 and are not comparable with "normal" yield-tables. 



The forest in question is situated about 15 or 20 miles from 

 the city previously mentioned and clothes the upper slopes of 

 chalk hills. It is for the most part conveniently situated with 

 regard to railway facilities and well served by roads, and con- 

 tained prior to the war some of the finest pure beech "stands" 

 in France. 



Natural regeneration on the Compartment or Shelter- 

 wood system is the method of management, and the cost 

 of artificial assistance to the young crop is estimated at 

 1 os. per acre. 



The annual expenses per acre after deducting the sport- 

 ing rent amount to about one shilling, but this again 

 does not include the costs of administration but covers 

 such expenses as maintenance of forest roads and wages of 

 forest guards. 



