AS A HOP-POLE CROP. 1 83 



There are two modes of growing the larch for hop- 

 poles. One is to plant the young trees at distances 

 varying from 18 to 30 inches apart, according to the 

 size of poles wanted, and to let them grow undisturbed 

 till they are of the size wished, and then they are all 

 cut and disposed of at once. The other mode is to 

 plant the young trees at 1 8 inches apart, and when 

 they have arrived at a stage suitable for the smaller 

 size of poles, to thin out each alternate tree, and leave 

 the others to grow for some years, until they are fit for 

 the larger sizes. Either of these modes may be adopted, 

 according to the class of poles that may be found most 

 in demand in the locality. In Woolmer Forest and 

 its neighbourhood large quantities of young larch are 

 reared for this purpose, and they are planted, some 

 fields at 18 inches apart, others at 20 inches, others 

 at 24 inches, others at 30 inches, and others at about 

 3 feet apart — all depending upon the character of the 

 poles it is wished to grow, whether of a small or large 

 size ; of course, the smaller the poles are required, the 

 closer the trees are planted. 



There is no class of tree crop more simple of culti- 

 vation than this, as the only point aimed at is that of 

 obtaining the largest quantity of clean, straight poles 

 from a given piece of land, and this is attained by 

 planting the young trees close, in order that they may 

 draw up one another to the desired height and thick- 

 ness. 



It is often found desirable to rear several crops of 

 this sort in succession on the same piece of land, and 



