76 PLANTING. 



fermentation, which destroys the tannin principle first in that portion of the 

 bark containing it in the largest <i\iantity. 



The weight of bark afforded by given contents of timber, varies accord- 

 ing to circumstances connected with the growth of particular trees, as 

 w bother grown in confined air, or in healthy, open situations, also as regards 

 the aire of the trees. The statements given by Mr. Monteith, in his 

 itt T'S Guide,' are, perhaps, as near to the truth of an average as the 

 nature of the subject will admit, at least they are consonant with the results 

 of our own practical experience. 



Every cubic foot of timber afford* of bark 

 Ibs. MM. 



An oak 40 years old . . from 9 to 12 



Ditto from 80 to 100 ditto . 10 16 



Larch timber, per foot . . ,, 8 ,, 10 



Birch timber, large ditto . . 11 14 



Willow, ditto . . . 9 11 



The most judicious mode of felling forest-trees is by grubbing up, or 



taking the solid part of the root with the bole, in every case where coppice 



stools are not wanted, for the expense of taking up the roots afterwards 



when cither planting or tillage may be demanded on the sites of the felled 



trees, will be found to exceed that of taking up the root with the stem in 



the first instance, besides the injury to the immediate fertility of the soil 



by the introduction of fungi and insects, the first agents generally of 



decomposition of the roots of felled trees which do not stole or reproduce 



shoo*s. Besides the advantages now alluded to, there is another, that of 



the value of the solid part of the roots of trees. The peculiar structure of 



many roots afford the best materials for what is termed ornamental rustic 



work ; and also the compact texture of the wood, and the diversified lines 



of the medullary rays and concentric circles, fit it for the manufacture of 



interesting cabinet works. 



The root of the larch affords a valuable material for forming knees of 

 boats. Admiral Fleming was the first, we believe, to point out this pro- 

 perty of the larch. The lower part of the stem, with the solid root attached, 

 is quartered, and, when joined, form knees of a lasting nature, that 

 I art of the wood, the solid root produced under ground, and always in 

 contact with damp, being probably more adapted to withstand the effects 

 of moisture than the proper wood produced in the open air. 



CHAPTER VII. 



to of tize Or product of wood in *//'//'//// species 



Of (//< mode of valuing /tldii/udoiis present ralue, 



pr< '//' <>f lerlain indiridual trees which hare attained to 



' inn tu rili/. Of tin: product* <>f plantations, and of the fcnnn 



dru', fi- ///rsr products. 



IT is a ct-imnon observation, that the slower a tree grows the harder 



WOOd< TliU statement, as applicable to trees of diUcrent species 



:iera, as, for instance, between the poplar and the oak, is gene- 



rally ( 'ti individual trees of the same species, two 



oaks, for example, the observation will be found not to apply; indeed 



will be found proved if we examine into the. facts which 



beard the point. In every plantation we find that the individual 



trees composing it vary considerably in what is termed quicker slow growth, 



