ARBORICULTURE IN HAMPSHIRE. 49 



exceed the preceding quotations. I avoid retaining an excessive 

 number of trees towards the end of the periodical thinnings. I 

 have also valued the trees under, rather than over, their value. 

 For instance, at sixty years old forty trees are cut, which are 

 entered at 50s. each, certainly not an extravagant value. If ash 

 trees are planted in deep loam and sheltered situations, no one will 

 consider 30 feet an unusual growth for sixty years. The selling 

 price of growing ash is 2s. per foot, so that trees containing 30 

 feet of timber should be valued at 60s. each, clear of expenses. 

 It will further be observed that I only cut ninety trees after they 

 are fifty-five years old, whereas it is not unusual to retain that 

 number after the last thinning. 



Birch is a valuable underwood, but unprofitable as a timber 

 tree. It rarely acquires large dimensions, and its timber is of 

 little value. It prefers a dry, warm position, but succeeds 

 tolerably well in cool moist soils, provided water does not stagnate 

 at the roots. It grows rapidly when young, but its rate of growth 

 decreases as the tree increases in size. It is a graceful tree, with 

 long, slender, drooping spray. After rain, the leaves emit a deli- 

 cious odour, which makes birches desirable specimens for lawns 

 and pleasure grounds. In mixed hardwood plantations, their 

 silvery bark, glittering among the stems of other trees, is pecu- 

 liarly picturesque. They seldom occupy prominent places in 

 mixed hardwood plantations, but frequently occur in Scotch fir 

 enclosures on gravelly moors. They are accommodating in regard 

 to soils, and often spring up spontaneously on moorland covered 

 with heath and furze. In such soils they are sometimes con- 

 sidered more remunerative than Scotch firs, but in my opinion 

 this is a fallacy. The early returns are superior ; but at the end 

 of sixty years, a Scotch fir plantation judiciously managed will 

 realise 30 per cent, more than birch. The thinnings are valuable, 

 because the whole of the spray is made into brooms, and the 

 stems are utilised for brush or rake ware ; whereas the Scotch fir 

 thinnings are only fit for firewood or inferior fencing rails. The 

 usual practice in birch plantations is to plant the trees 3^ feet 

 apart, and to allow the whole to grow undisturbed for nine years. 

 It is then sold standing ; but previous to sale, about 500 trees per 

 acre are marked and reserved for a permanent crop. The stems 

 shoot again, and are recut after another period of nine years, and 

 the trees are thinned as much as required at the same time. 

 This is repeated from time to time until all the trees are cleared, 



VOL. VIII., PART I. D 



