1 68 THE NEW FORESTRY. 



must be constantly on the watch to prune the dominant species 

 in order to equalise the struggle ; and this means trouble in 

 tending and a considerable loss of crop in the end. Mixtures 

 of the conifera species alone, or broad-leaved species alone, 

 are bad enough when they differ greatly in habit and rate of 

 growth, but mixtures of both classes are worse, because the 

 pinus family of the Scotch fir type cannot endure much shade, 

 and there are a number of hard-woods that soon smother 

 them in a mixed wood. In all cases, the margin of the plan- 

 tation, especially on exposed sides, should be left dense in 

 order to shut out cold currents. The width of this margin 

 will depend on the kind of plantation, firs of the Austrian 

 species being the best, as regards habit, for a close fence ; but 

 as a rule it will suffice if the trees are the same at the sides as 

 in the rest of the wood, provided the margins are not thinned. 

 Where it will grow, the Douglas fir, planted close in one or 

 two lines, forms a high and close barrier against winds ; and 

 near the sea the willow is almost as good. 



SECTION III. EXECUTION OF THE WORK. FIRST THINNING. 



Assuming that the man appointed to the work of thinning 

 fully comprehends what is wanted, he should first mark the 

 trees that are to be removed, beginning at the northern boun- 

 dary of the plantation and working southwards so that the sun 

 will not be in his eyes. Entering at one side, and taking a 

 strip or section of convenient width next the aforesaid 

 boundary, he should, with a slash from a billhook, mark all the 

 trees to come out on their south side, and as high up as he can 

 reach, so that the man who follows him with the axe will be 

 able to find them readily in the plantation. Only the dead, 

 diseased, weakly, or dominated trees should be marked, and 

 nowhere should a gap be made so wide as to admit the light 

 to the ground between the trees, and the branches of the trees 

 left should much more than meet to prevent that. Of course, 

 in practice, the work cannot always be carried out exactly 

 according to theory, and the marker has to use his discretion ; 

 but, as a rule, when he has any doubt he should leave the tree. 

 When he has finished one strip he should wheel round and 

 take up another, and the marked trees of the first line will be 

 his guide, and so on till he has gone through the plantation. 

 The man whose duty it is to fell the marked trees will then 

 begin where the marker left off, and the marked trees will face 

 him and be easily seen. The thinnings should be cleaned 



