26 ON THE PRESENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF 



either to buy trees from another nursery or recommend his own 



alder. He assured his employer that Mr S had disposed of 



10 acres at £18 per acre, for eight years' growth, and that nothing 

 would pay better than alder underwood. Ultimately his employer 

 consented, and it is scarcely necessary to add that it proved a failure. 



Though such extreme cases rarely occui', yet in rake-manufactur- 

 ing districts alder underwood is often cultivated in ungenial situa- 

 tions. The demand is great, and, under favourable conditions, 

 such large profits are realised that even practical foresters occasion- 

 ally err by planting it too extensively. We frequently find it in 

 low marshy valleys, and, in such situations, the underwood is in- 

 variably of little value. This may appear strange to many who 

 have seen lai'ge alders with their roots projecting in rivers or run- 

 ning brooks, and who may conclude that wet, low-lying valleys 

 will produce a healthy crop ; this may be the case in South Hants, 

 within the influence of the sea, but in North Hants, where severe 

 spring frosts prevail, the result will be disappointing. Alder 

 starts early into growth, and the tender shoots are easily affected 

 by frost. Consequently the frosty air, settling in the valleys, de- 

 stroys the succulent leader, and it often takes the whole season to 

 recover. This not only retards the growth of the crop, but, by 

 destroying the ascending shoots, each plant produces a succession 

 of new leaders which renders the underwood comparatively worth- 

 less for rake-making. 



Another mistake which prevails in many parts of Hampshire, 

 is attempting to grow alder in oak plantations. The soil in such 

 c\ses is either too wet for oak or too dry for alder. If too wet, 

 the oaks soon give unmistakable symptoms of disease, and I 

 would prefer to have the crop cleared, and the ground trenched 

 and replanted. If, however, the soil is not too wet, and the oak- 

 trees are healthy and vigorous, nothing pays better than the Scot- 

 tish system of treating it exclusively as a timber plantation. The 

 southern practice is to thin the oaks severely, and plant the 

 vacant spaces with alder for underwood. This is a ruinous pro- 

 ceeding, for no description of underwood is so susceptible of injury 

 from the drip and shade of other trees as alder ; and no crop de- 

 preciates so rapidly in value when grown under unfavourable con- 

 ditions. Unless grown clean and straight, free from knots, joints, 

 or double leaders, and with comparatively little taper in propor- 

 tion to the length of stem, it is useless, except for charcoal or fire- 

 wood. When planted in oak-timber plantations there is only 



