ON THE FELLING OF TIMBER TREES. 177 



proportion of sapwood, the timber is of comparatively little value per 

 cubic foot, so that it can seldom be cut down profitably, especially 

 if thriving on soil suitable to its growth, until it reaches one hundred 

 years old. Of course, when grown as copse-wood, it ought to be cut 

 young ; but even under the most favourable circumstances in Scot- 

 land copse-wood is less profitable to the proprietor than a crop of 

 timber, and larch can be grown more profitably in most situations. 

 The oak is of slow growth wben young, but on suitable ground it 

 increases rapidly after about thirty years. It sometimes happens 

 that oak, planted in good soil and in a sheltered position, attains a 

 large size, but has little matured heart-wood at sixty or seventy years 

 old, and in such a case it would be better to allow it to remain till 

 fully matured, when the value of the timber per cubic foot would be 

 materially enhanced. 



The ash, although capable of growing to large dimensions, can be 

 cut down more profitably in its young state than other hard-wood 

 trees. When clean grown, and from thirty to forty years of age, it 

 is in great demand for handle- wood, and for agricultural implements; 

 but in a rich loam, with dry subsoil, it would be more profitable to 

 allow it to grow to double that age. 



The alder is generally in good demand at all stages of its growth, 

 after arriving at sizes suitable for the clogger, and for turnery, or 

 charcoal, and is seldom grown to very large dimensions, Thriving 

 best in damp soil, it can be profitably cut down at forty years' growth, 

 making way for a second crop, which springs up rapidly from the 

 stools. 



The beech is of little value in its young state, and is seldom cut 

 till well grown. 



Birch, like the alder, can be cut down profitably at about forty 

 years old, being then in good demand for doggers, charring, and 

 turnery purposes; and, when of large size and good quality, it is 

 extensively used for furniture. 



Horse chestnut is seldom planted for profit, but is valuable as an 

 ornamental park tree. When grown on good soil and in a sheltered 

 situation, however, it can be profitably cut down when it attains 

 large dimensions. 



Spanish chestnut is of most value when of large size, and is in 

 many cases used for the same purposes as oak. It is most profitably 

 cut down when about one hundred years old. 



Elms (Scotch and English), are of little value until they have 

 arrived at timber size, and should therefore never be cut as a crop 



