REPORT OF ANNUAL EXCURSION. 141 



1000 feet, spruce had a content of 12-15 CUD ' C feet per tree at 

 about 50 years old, compared with larch and Scots pine which 

 had produced only 8-9 cubic feet. In the middle Wilderness 

 wood, at an elevation of 1200 feet, the poles averaged 7-7 J- cubic 

 feet, while in the Wilderness at 1500 feet they averaged 2-3 cubic 

 feet at 40-45 years. The timber is extracted by means of slides 

 and cable tramways to the Glyndyfrdwy railway station. After 

 a detour through the heart of the plantations a return was made 

 by an easy descent to Llangollen, where the motors were rejoined 

 for the return journey to Shrewsbury. 



The excursion was the first one made to Wales by the Society, 

 and it was in every way a great success. The well-arranged 

 programme enabled the members to see silvicultural operations 

 being carried out in all stages of forest growth. 



16. Observations on the Planting of the Quicker 

 Growing Conifers. 



By Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart, Bart. 



The huge increase in the cost of plants and of labour impels 

 attention to the question of " spacing," for the avoidance of 

 unnecessary waste of plants and of labour in planting and 

 in unremunerative thinning operations. Such a consideration 

 may be regarded as the negative side or the problem ; but 

 there is also the positive side, viz., to ascertain the best 

 "spacing" for various species of conifers in order to obtain 

 the best silvicultural results at the earliest economic period. 



During the past fifteen years I have carefully watched the 

 effects of close planting on Japanese larch and Douglas in 

 Wiltshire (at Fonthill Abbey) on very favourable greensand soil, 

 and of Japanese larch— for we have not sufficient depth of soil 

 for much Douglas — at Ardgowan, Renfrewshire, on quite 

 suitable ground. 



The conclusion 1 have arrived at is that even the closest 

 planting, at 3 feet, does not prevent, and only partially restrains, 

 branch-growth, and that, if clean boles are required, hand 

 pruning close to the stem must be resorted to. l To prove the 



1 As regards Douglas fir, I am supported in this statement by the head 

 forester at Longleat, Mr A. Cameron. 



