104 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



this day were the strip system of natural regeneration, already 

 described, the pruning or removal of " wolf" trees in the advance 

 growth, the importance of thinning at the proper age, instead of 

 sacrificing volume growth to growth in length by the hitherto 

 prevalent method of deferred thinning. Another method of 

 thinning was seen which consisted in ear-marking, so to speak, 

 about double the number of stems required for the final crop, 

 and thus having one-half for reserve. We also saw systematic 

 planting much like our own, to make good the injury caused by 

 roe deer to the natural regeneration. 



The tour was a complete success. We saw many well- 

 managed and excellent crops, which presented a very different 

 picture from our own. But it must be remembered that the 

 ■conditions in our country are such that we cannot transplant the 

 German methods here. We must recollect that we saw State 

 forests in Germany, while ours are Estate forests in which such 

 things as, for example, a 300 years' rotation is out of the 

 ■question. 



Opinions will obviously diff"er when we come to generalise on 

 the net educational value of the tour. To the mind of the 

 •writer it showed what could be done by continued and systematic 

 management under highly skilled foresters. The crops inspected 

 were perfect in type of tree, density, and volume per acre. The 

 foresters knew with great precision the volume and value of their 

 crops. A fixed volume is cut annually in each district, and so 

 purchasers can rely upon getting a fixed quantity. The foresters 

 can conjure with their woods as regards natural regeneration. 

 Further, timber transport is carefully provided for. As a result 

 of good roads, with a gradual descent, two oxen can take a load 

 of 200 to 250 cubic feet in one waggon, — impossible, says the 

 English waggoner I Destructive insects were kept in check as a 

 result of systematically peeling felled timber. Further, it may 

 be noted that the workmen are woodmen in winter and small 

 holders in summer. Last, but by no means least, in every case 

 the woods returned a handsome profit per acre. 



