156 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and lime, need not be treated of, as they are usually planted more 

 from an aesthetic point of view than anything else, whilst 

 Others — poplars and willows — are more worthy of passing note. 



Poplars. — The black Italian and Canadian poplars' — excepting 

 the balsam varieties of the latter — are the best timber producers 

 in this genus. They require a moderately deep and fertile soil, 

 with a fair degree of humidity — but no stagnant water — for their 

 proper development. They are rather above middle class in 

 their light requirements, and afford a fair amount of protection 

 to the soil. Their soft leaves decompose quickly, and do not 

 blow readily, consequently they maintain the fertility of the soil 

 fairly well. They should be cultivated in groups in suitable 

 situations, never as single trees throughout a wood, because 

 they grow so much more rapidly than any other trees. A crop 

 of good sized marketable timber may be produced by these 

 trees in a period of thirty-five to forty years, a feat which no 

 other tree can equal. 



Willow. — The characteristics and requirements of the tree 

 willows are very much the same as those of poplars. They 

 will stand a little more moisture in the soil, afford less protection 

 to it, and be rather more exacting in their light requirements. 

 The method of cultivation should be the same as has been 

 recommended for poplars. 



Tending of Woods. 



It is claimed that if hardwoods — or broad-leaved trees — were 

 cultivated on the principle advocated, the management would 

 be simplicity itself compared with that of a compound mixture 

 of conifers with hardwoods. In the early stages the usual 

 precautions against weeds will have to be taken. Afterwards, 

 when the trees have become established, and have developed 

 into the thicket stage, care will have to be taken, when dealing 

 with mixtures, that the shade-bearing trees do not overtop the 

 others. When the Society visited the French forests a few years 

 ago, a very good object-lesson for the prevention of this danger 

 was brought before their notice in the forests near Nancy. If 

 the hornbeam or beech were threatening to crush out the oak, 

 the forest guards went round with long-handled bill-hooks, and 

 wherever a good oak sapling was being threatened, he simply 

 slashed off the tops of the offending trees, thus giving the oak 

 ample head room, and still maintaining a complete canopy for 



