98 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



broad-leaved woods before the sixtieth year, nor in the 

 coniferous woods before the thirtieth year. (Late thinning and 

 increased expense.) 



Principal Objects of Management. 



The beech is desired as the matrix of the forest as far as 

 possible. The maintenance of beech woods on large areas is 

 however avoided. Suitable but not too small areas in the beech 

 woods are to be filled up with oak, or in other cases with larch in 

 groups or single, likewise with spruce and pine in larger or smaller 

 groups. The oak groups are raised from seed in small woods. 



The beech is naturally regenerated under a shelter-wood 

 (Group-system). 



The conifers are established by planting i-yearpine, and 2-year 

 spruce and larch. In certain exceptional cases 3-year-old spruce 

 and larch are pit-planted. 



The oak (Durmast) is only planted in suitable localities in large 

 groups or in whole woods pure or under-planted with beech. 



In raising the plants only local Spessart seed is used. There- 

 fore, regeneration can only be carried on during mast years. 

 When seed trees are present the natural regeneration is 

 assisted by breaking up the soil and covering the fallen acorns. 

 When no mother trees are present artificial sowing is carried 

 out, either broadcast or by dibbling-in irregularly i6| to 20 bushels 

 per acre, or in rows with 6 J to 10 bushels per acre. The 

 prepared strips are 12 to 16 inches broad, and 23^ to 27^ inches 

 apart. The young oak is protected against over-shading and 

 suppression by beech. In oak woods, where an undergrowth of 

 beach is absent, this is introduced by planting when the oak is in 

 the pole stage. Good oak groups and woods may be retained for 

 more than one beech rotation. They give extremely valuable 

 material when about three hundred years old. 



The pine is used — especially in southern and western aspects for 

 afforestation where the soil has deteriorated and in the regeneration 

 of badly-grown beech — as far as possible with beech (sometimes 

 spruce) as underwood. 



Pine woods are being at the present time and will be in future 

 underplanted with beech. The spruce is used abundantly in the 

 afforestation of bare, moist, low-lying localities and for mixing 

 with beech on east and north aspects. 



