. THINNING. 99 



circumstance quite common, "but often overlooked on 

 sloping banks. 



No. 1 7. This plantation, save that it is larger, is in 

 almost every respect similar to Xo. 1 6. It is, how- 

 ever, slightly mixed with gean, which had better 

 be cut out early, as the fruit is too tempting for 

 children to resist ; hence they invariably destroy 

 the trees, which is deeply to be regretted, as few 

 trees are either more profitable or ornamental than 

 the gean tree. 



No. 18 is remarkable only for the whins, which 

 contend for the mastery over the trees, and are 

 very difficult to subdue. Probably the best thing to do 

 amongst whins is to plant the trees in rows six feet 

 apart, and cut them at midsummer for a few years 

 till the trees overshadow and kill them. 



No. 1 9. This plantation is remarkable for the equal 

 growth of the trees and uniformity of crop over all 

 parts of the ground. It is composed chiefly of larch 

 and Scotch pine, has been once thinned, and bids 

 fair for an excellent crop both of larch and pine, which 

 occupy the ground as follows: — Larch, 481; Scotch 

 pine, 258; various, 31 = 700: The average number 

 of trees per acre here is greater than in any of the 

 other plantations that have been thinned, which is 

 partly owing to absence of roads, partly to the planta- 

 tion having been only partially thinned, and partly to 

 the very regular state of the crop all over, which shows 

 the trees to be little less than eight feet apart. 



