Io6 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARHORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Those who had the fortune to attend the excursion to France 

 some years ago, will remember the effects of light and shade on 

 the growth of young oak forests, which was very apparent from 

 the first stages of their growth. Instead of the young trees being 

 thinned out, as probably would be done in Scotland, those that 

 are ultimately to be thinned out are simply foreshortened by 

 cutting 3 or 4 feet off the terminal shoot. By this means the 

 trees which are to form the future crop are allowed light and air 

 without exposing the main stems to excessive evaporation. 



As a further illustration of the effects of light and shade on 

 tree-growth, the following may be of interest : — 



A number of years ago we had occasion to fill up some blanks 

 in an old beech plantation, but, unfortunately, as too often 

 happens, the plantation was infested with rabbits and roe deer, 

 with the result that the young trees were being destroyed 

 wholesale. After consideration, it was decided to surround the 

 stems of the young trees with tall bracken, of which there 

 was a plentiful supply near at hand. 



The fronds of the bracken were inverted and placed on the 

 surface of the ground, and the stems of the bracken tied round 

 the stems of the young trees, which were upwards of 5 feet high. 

 By this means they were not only effectively protected but the 

 after results showed the effects of light and shade in a way little 

 thought of. In the course of three or four years, the stems of 

 the young beech covered with bracken had not only assumed a 

 beautiful green bark, but had attained to about three times the 

 diameter of the uncovered portion. 



I need scarcely say that this illustrates the effects of light and 

 shade in a very unexpected and remarkable manner, and shows 

 very conclusively that however essential light and air may be 

 for the growth of trees, it is quite possible to have too much 

 sunlight, such as that caused by over-thinning, and exposing 

 the stems of the trees to excessive evaporation and branch- 

 production, with the ultimate loss of timber. Perhaps some 

 one can give a little more information on the subject. J. K. 



The U.SES of Douglas Fir Timber. 



Several hundreds of Douglas firs having been blown down 

 on the Scone estates in the gales of November igii and 



