TENDING OF CROWDED WOODS. 207 



leaf-canopy has been established, the trees commence 

 pressing one against the other, there is not enough 

 growing space for all, and then a struggle for existence 

 sets in. A portion of the trees outgrow the rest, and they 

 rear their heads up to the full enjoyment of the light. 

 Between and below them are the rest of the trees ; some 

 of these still enjoy with their leading shoots light from 

 above, though they are already dominated trees ; others 

 have already been left behind to such an extent that 

 they are actually deprived of the direct enjoyment of 

 light, in other words they are suppressed ; they live on 

 for a shorter or longer period, according to species and 

 other circumstances, and then die. 



Thus there are four classes of trees, namely : 



(1.) Dominant trees. 



(2.) Dominated trees. 



(3.) Suppressed trees, as yet alive. 



(4.) Dead trees. 



This struggle, if not interfered with, continues whilst 

 height-growth lasts, and it generally reduces the growing 

 space of each dominant tree to such an extent that the 

 latter cannot develop in the most advantageous manner ; 

 on the contrary, such trees are likely to assume a thin, 

 lanky shape, so that they are frequently unable to stand 

 upright, if deprived of the protection of their immediate 

 neighbours. They are liable to be bent and broken by 

 wind, snow, or rime. To obviate such a state of affairs, 

 the forester interferes in good time by removing a 

 portion of the trees; he thins the wood. Thinnings, 

 then, are cuttings, which have for their object to 

 provide for each tree left standing that growing space 



