78 SUITABLE DISTANCES FOR 



would make a difference in expense of over £2 per acre. On a 

 large plantation this would amount to a considerable sum, which 

 might be saved or expended to better advantage in draining the 

 plantation, or other useful purposes. 



Further, when trees are planted very close together, they are 

 more liable to be drawn up by overcrowding, if not thinned at an 

 early age. But while this is the result of too close planting, the 

 opposite extreme should be avoided, for in the case of too thin 

 planting, especially in exposed situations, the trees get one-sided, 

 by the want of shelter to one another from prevailing winds, 

 and become to a great extent starved and scrubby, and make but 

 little progress. 



From the small value of the early thinnings of plantations, it 

 seems a pity that trees will not thrive if planted at such distances 

 apart that the first thinnings might be of considerable size and 

 value. If this were practicable, it would do away with close and 

 thick planting, which nuns many young plantations that are 

 left without timely thinning, with the view of the first thinnings 

 becoming of the greatest possible value before being taken out. 



When trees are planted in clumps or masses, they can be more 

 regularly dispersed than when the mixing system is adopted, as 

 some trees are of faster growth than others, have a greater spread 

 of branches, and require more room. It is proposed, therefore, to 

 consider the question of distance in regard to each variety of 

 tree under the clump or massing system of planting. The oak, 

 in favourable condition, grows to a great size, with considerable 

 spread of branches ; and as a good revenue may be derived from 

 its bark and branches, for tanning and charcoal, etc., it shoidd 

 have room to develop itself. When it is planted in a good soil, 

 low altitude, and moderately-sheltered situation, a distance of 

 20 feet from each tree, with the spaces filled in with Scotch 

 fir, larch, or spruce as nurses, at 5 feet apart, will not be found 

 too wide. In such favourable circumstances the plants will 

 make rapid progress, taking their girth with ample branches and 

 foliage, and laying a good foundation for after-growth, and these 

 will be of more value at the first thinning than if planted close 

 together. But when planted in less favourable soil, at higher 

 altitude, and in an exposed situation, a distance of 12 feet apart, 

 with the intervals filled in with Scotch fir or larch to 3^ feet 

 apart, will be wide enough, as neither the principals nor the nurses 

 will make such progress as in good soil and sheltered situation. 



