4 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



(or suppression) are inextricably linked together. Taking 

 spruce as an example, in a low rainfall area where gross branch- 

 growth has resulted from wide spacing, it will be found that 

 branches above a certain diameter persist, even when dead, 

 right through a rotation. The same holds good, to a certain 

 degree, with most conifers. Form-factor is influenced by the 

 same conditions, but while it is probable that heavy stocking 

 gives the best final results, it is evident that we require reliable 

 data collected in this country before we can dogmatise on 

 planting distances for any species of tree. 



" In conclusion, I might be allowed to refer to a concrete 

 example, well known to most of you — the Douglas plantation at 

 Taymount, Perthshire. I have known this plantation since 

 1887, when it was about 27 years old, and am familiar with its 

 early history. The Douglasii were planted at 12 feet apart, 

 and filled in with European larch to 6 feet apart. The 

 . conditions were so favourable to the Douglasii that the thin- 

 foliaged larch made no impression in the way of suppressing 

 branch-formation, with the result that, on the removal of the 

 larch that were at an early stage wholly suppressed, pruning of 

 the gross branches of the remaining crop had to be resorted to. 

 At the time of pruning the form-factor was very low, i.e. the 

 taper was very pronounced. As the crowns developed and 

 good canopy was produced, a decided improvement in the form- 

 factor took place, but recent measurement shows that it is on 

 the down grade, being little better than 0*3. 



" One swallow does not make summer, and what I have been 

 permitted to draw your attention to may go for little, but I feel 

 that we are all agreed that careful investigation of the conditions 

 that obtain in this country is necessary before we make a 

 radical change in our planting distances. 



Professor E. P. Stebbing said : — " The question of planting 

 distances is connected with the development of a clean stem. 

 Even with pruning, unless undertaken very early, you would be 

 by no means sure of getting clean planks when you cut up your 

 timber, and therefore to get clean timber such as that which 

 comes from Norway, and Sweden, and Russia, you must have 

 close planting. The question seems to resolve itself really into 

 a matter of supply and demand, because if the demand for 

 timber is going to be great in the future, and the supply is 

 going to fall short, we shall have to satisfy ourselves with an 



