THE VALUE OF WASTE LAND FOR AFFORESTATION PURPOSES, I51 
class of soil, and with the same aspect, slope, etc.,, it is generally 
possible to obtain a good general idea of their rate of growth for 
any given period by ascertaining the average size of the trees. 
In this way, the general rate of development of a species may be 
found for that particular soil, situation, etc., in the district. But 
the conditions under which the trees have been grown as regards 
space, determine whether the results are of any value to the 
forester or not. If grown sufficiently close together to secure 
branch suppression on the one hand, and the maximum 
production of timber throughout all stages of growth on the 
other, the yield-capacity of the soil can be ascertained without 
difficulty. But if they have been standing so far apart as to 
render the development of the trees other than what they would 
be in a thick wood, no absolutely definite information can be 
obtained which will show the maximum quantity of marketable 
timber capable of being produced in a given number of years, 
and it is therefore impossible to say what return the land is able 
to make upon the capital invested in planting it. 
It is in the general absence of trees grown under the former 
conditions in this country, and more especially their absence in 
hill districts, which renders the work of collecting useful data so 
difficult. In Germany, where State forests have been in 
existence for several centuries, the presence of thick forest crops, 
of all ages, is so general throughout the country that the 
number of measured plots is chiefly determined by the expense 
and time involved in dealing with them. In Great Britain, 
however, instances of really thick and full crops of more than 
fifty years of age, and covering an area of one acre or so of 
ground, are so scarce that one almost despairs of finding sufficient 
to make the results of measuring worth recording. With younger 
crops, things are somewhat better, but even with these, their 
existence on high-lying hill land is very limited, and it is only by 
careful search, and the use of more or less imperfect material, 
that any great number can be found in individual districts. 
The chief defects in hill plantations are usually associated with 
their lack of management from the time of planting onwards. 
It is, of course, an understood thing that many of the smaller of 
these plantations were formed with little or no idea of growing 
commercial timber, but simply for the purpose of providing 
shelter for stock, farm-houses, or cottages. One result of this is 
that they are often planted in situations and under conditions 
