VISIT TO A FRENCH PRIVATE FOREST. 1 75 



doubtless no great dimensions, but satisfactory enough when 

 considered as the product of the natural environment unassisted 

 by skilled supervision. The finest tree in the forest is found here, 

 and is known as Le Roi de Pauliny. It will be interesting to see 

 what its final development will be in another 50 or 60 years : 

 its present girth is considerably over 8 feet. Nearly everywhere, 

 as has already been stated, thinnings are required. The 

 Compartment de Laveau in the northern block is an instance in 

 point. The stock here, 35 years of age, is already too dense, 

 and consequently although the height is satisfactory and the 

 stems are well cleaned, the girth is inferior. A moderate thinning, 

 if applied at once, would greatly enhance the future value of the 

 crop. The same observation applies to the Compartment de la 

 Croix Rouge in the southern block. The above are merely a few 

 instances selected at haphazard from different portions of the forest; 

 they are intended only as individual examples of the necessity for 

 applying the principle of scientific thinnings to the whole pine crop. 

 Each tree after a certain age is numbered and entered in the 

 Regisseur's Control Book. Such trees as are considered ripe 

 for felling are sold standing to the contractor. The method 

 adopted for both broad-leaved trees and conifers is thus that of 

 Selection by felling areas, modified by financial requirements. 

 The forest is expected to yield annually ;z^240, and to all intents 

 and purposes this budget estimate is regarded as the basis, if not 

 the object, of management. The average annual revenue from the 

 pine amounts to about ^25 per acre : or under a 60 years' rotation 

 the financial yield works out to about Ss. 4d. per acre per annum. 

 In glades, blanks, and where sufficient light has been afforded, 

 the young growth is thoroughly satisfactory, the annual incre- 

 ment, or length of the internodes, being often a foot or more. 

 The reproduction is to a great extent artificial — by transplants. 

 Usually, what is equivalent to a preparatory felling is effected, 

 and the seeds or seedlings are then introduced. Considering the 

 magnificent crop of self-sown seedlings that results from a 

 sufficient opening of the canopy, it seems rather a waste of energy 

 and money to have recourse to fhe expensive methods of artificial 

 regeneration. It is probable that less unsatisfactory results, with 

 a far more favourable balance sheet, would be obtained by 

 subjecting the pine to light thinnings every 5 years onwards 

 from the age of 25 years, and by devoting the last 20 years or 

 so of the rotation to the orthodox Preparatory, Secondary, and 



