PLANTING FOREST TREES. 79 



Neither will the oaks grow to such a size, nor require so much 

 room to mature. Moreover, after the first thinnings of the hard- 

 woods, and the removal of the nurses, they will require little more 

 thinning until they arrive at good size and value. 



Ash requires to be grown more clean and lengthy than most 

 timber trees, and should therefore be more closely planted than 

 other hardwood kinds of large dimensions ; and when the soil is 

 good, altitude low, and situation moderately sheltered, 15 feet 

 apart, intermixed with nurses at 5 feet, is a fair average distance. 

 If the soil is of a thin and inferior quality, 9 feet apart, with 

 nurses at 3 feet, will not be too close. From the ready sale of, 

 and demand for, good clean ash of small dimensions, the thinnings 

 are more valuable than most others of the hardwoods, which is in 

 itself a good reason for not planting ash too widely apai-t. 



Elm (Scotch) is of little value when young, and although a tree 

 of great spread of branches when mature, it should not be planted 

 too widely apart when grown for the market. In good dry loam 

 and subsoil, 16 feet apart, with nurses to 4 feet, will be a suitable 

 distance ; but in less favourable soils, and more exposed situations, 

 12 feet apart, with nurses to 3 feet, will not be too close. 



Elm (English) is a fast-growing tree, of an upright habit of 

 growth, and, although of less spread of blanches, is of larger size 

 when grown in suitable soil and situation than the Scotch or Wych 

 elm. On this account, therefore, and also because it is of little 

 value when of small dimensions, it shoidd be allowed ample room, 

 and not planted too closely, as it is less liable than many hard- 

 wooded trees to be ovei'-topped or shaded by firs or other nurses. 

 When the soil is dry and good, and the situation sheltered, 20 

 feet apart, with nurses to 5 feet, will not be too wide ; while in 

 less suitable situations, 14 feet apart, with nurses to 3| feet, will 

 be about the proper distance. 



Beech is seldom planted in first-class soils for profit, but fre- 

 quently for landscape effect ; and in the case of a light, dry soil, 

 and moderately sheltered position at a medium altitude, it may be 

 planted at 16 feet apart, with nurses 4 feet apart ; but in an 

 exposed situation, 12 feet apart, and 3 feet for the nurses, will be 

 sufficient. 



Sycamore and Norway Maple may be planted in good dry soil, 

 moderately sheltered, and medium altitude, at 16 feet apart, with 

 nurses to 4 feet ; and on thin and poor soil, and more exposed 

 situation, 12 feet apart, and filled in with nurses to 3 feet. 



