164 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



to in Baden. Formerly 10,000 plants per hectare ^ were 

 used, now 6000 is considered ample stocking ; but it must be 

 kept in mind that with the hot summers of South Germany the 

 energy of growth in height is probably much greater than with 

 us, so that it does not necessarily follow that what would be 

 sufficient for South Germany would be equally so for us. It 

 has further to be remembered that in those forests the timber of 

 finest quality will be had from the naturally regenerated stands 

 with a very dense young growth. Consequently it is not so 

 highly important to have very dense artificial cultures. 



The average rotation period for the silver fir worked on the 

 shelter-wood compartment system is 120 years, and natural 

 regeneration requires from 30 to 40 years to complete. Experi- 

 ence has recently proved, however, that the average age of 100 

 years would probably make a more profitable rotation period in 

 the lower reaches, and the tendency now appears to be to aim 

 at working into this rotation. 



As regards actual money returns from the silver fir forests, it 

 will readily be understood that with areas so vast and with con- 

 ditions so variable in the matter of soils, altitudes, etc., the 

 financial results must also vary. In some stands where the 

 situation is exceptionally favourable, the net returns appear to 

 work out as high as about ^3 per acre per annum, but, exclud- 

 ing poor and unproductive sections at extreme heights, 30s. an 

 acre would probably be nearer an average money return. Even 

 this very favourable result would not be possible without very 

 skilful management and the help of natural regeneration. It 

 has to be kept in mind also that all timber, small and great, has 

 a market value, while the market for high-class timber is very 

 good indeed. 



On a forest range near Baden-Baden, where the forests occur 

 at an altitude of from 1000 to 3300 feet, the average annual 

 increment, over 80 per cent, of the range, worked on the shelter- 

 wood compartment system, amounts to about 92 cubic feet 

 per acre. On the very high reaches the production is of course 

 less, and the limit of profitable production is reached somewhere 

 about 3000 feet. 



One thing which strikes even the casual visitor from our own 

 country is the extraordinarily successful results obtained in 

 natural regeneration. In some of the compartments of the 



^ One hectare = 2 '47 acres. 



