ON PLANTING DISTANCES FOR CONIFERS. 25 



severe, these differences are accentuated. In connection with 

 this, a well-known continental authority states that poverty of 

 the soil brings about a mis-relation between the increment and 

 leaf-apparatus. In other words, the work of assimilation is 

 limited by the amount of mineral matter suitable for plant uses 

 in the soil. Thus the trees require less foliage, and a reduction 

 in branches and crowns is the result. An improvement in stem- 

 form also results, while closer stocking is possible. A casual 

 inspection of the yield-tables in Bulletin No. 3, for Scots pine 

 and spruce, shows how the form-factor increases on the poorer 

 sites. 



It is doubtful if we can hope to compete against the clean, 

 slowly-grown pit-timber with narrow annual-rings, imported from 

 Sweden, Finland, and the Baltic States, with regard to its quality, 

 since these stems are being cut from old virgin forest. As soon 

 as these woods are depleted and the foreign timber-grower has 

 to consider the question of length of rotation, home growers 

 will have a better chance. There may then be a future for the 

 growing of pit-wood on long rotations on the poorest sites. 

 There are large areas of ground in Scotland which would grow 

 timber of Baltic quality, but the length of rotation necessary, 

 before market size is attained, prevents profitable planting. 



4. Planting Distances. 



By the Honorary Editor. 



Distances vary with conditions, such as (i) light-demanding 

 species ; (2) shade-tolerating species ; (3) rate of growth ; (4) 

 quality of soil; (5) size and age of plants; (6) surface vegeta- 

 tion ; (7) rotation (timber or pit-wood) ; (8) local market for 

 small thinnings. These and other important points must be 

 considered in laying down a crop, and it would be unwise to 

 risk spoiling the future returns by departing from sound silvi- 

 cultural principles when laying the foundation. 



At the same time forestry is an industry, and must be run on 

 economic lines, and every shilling saved at the outset represents 

 a relatively substantial sum at the end of a long rotation. 

 Hence economy with efficiency should be the guiding principle, 

 more so now than ever. 



Economy may be effected in various ways, such as staff and 



