208 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



which is best suited for its further development according 

 to the objects of management. It is necessary to explain 

 this somewhat in detail. 



2. The most suitable Growing Space. 



As the objects of management differ, so must the 

 most suitable growing space. Apart from this, the 

 growing space differs according to the age of the wood ; 

 the species ; the soil, elevation, and aspect of the locality. 



a. Objects of Management. 



A tree growing in a free position, in complete 

 enjoyment of vertical and lateral light, will develop a 

 full crown and root-system, and lay on a maximum 

 of volume. This is no doubt a great point, but it is 

 counterbalanced by serious drawbacks : 



In the first place a wood grown in this fashion does 

 by no means always produce the greatest volume per 

 acre, as the total production is represented by the 

 average volume per tree multiplied by the number of 

 trees per acre. Although each tree in a crowded wood 

 has a smaller volume than one grown isolated, yet 

 owing to the greater number of trees per acre, a crowded 

 wood may have, and generally has, a greater total 

 volume per acre than one in which the trees grow 

 isolated. Secondly, isolated trees are liable to suffer in 

 height-growth and in straightness. In the third place, 

 such trees are frequently covered with branches low 

 down, and in consequence they produce less valuable 

 timber. In the case of Conifers the timber is also 

 liable to be of an inferior quality, owing to the greater 

 breadth of the concentric rings. Last, but not least, 



