234 CONIFEROUS TREES 



but in connection with the former, it should be 

 explained that the coniferous trees, when planted, 

 were about i6 inches high, the others about 3 feet, 

 all being placed 4 feet apart. Owing to the land 

 having been recently cultivated, and to labour being 

 at that time cheap in the district, the opening of 

 pits was carried out by contract at quite a nominal 

 rate, the size of each being 12 inches square and 

 9 inches deep. After being planted the trees re- 

 quired little attention for the first six years, at the 

 end of which period they averaged 8 feet in height ; 

 and the shade occasioned by the branch-spread 

 had killed out most of the grassy undergrowth. 



As the plantations were primarily intended for 

 ornament and shelter, the retention of the lower 

 branches of the trees, at least along the margin, 

 was imperative, and in order to ensure this, early 

 thinning was carried out at regular intervals up 

 to the present time, always bearing in mind to 

 allow the boundary trees plenty of room for 

 branch development, those inwards, in order to 

 induce clean growth, being left much closer on 

 the ground. Though in the latter case the quantity 

 of timber produced is comparatively less than 

 along the margins, yet it is of greater value owing 

 to the trees being straight and clean-stemmed, 

 the only exception being the Corsican Pine, which, 

 even when isolated, has little inclination to form 

 stout side branches. 



The soil being light and resting on gravel was 

 peculiarly suited for the growth of the pines, 

 none of which suffered from disease or insect 

 attack, though the Weymouth had occasional 

 patches of the aphis by which it is usually attacked 



