232 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



flat or rounded off at the top. Owing to its shade- 

 bearing power, the crown extends far down the stem, 

 unless the tree is grown in crowded woods, when it 

 occupies about the upper-third of the height of the 

 tree. 



The root-system extends to a moderate depth, the tap- 

 root being of no importance after the first 5 or 6 

 years. It is of slow height-growth during the first 

 years of life, compared with other broad-leaved species ; 

 when from 20 to 30 years old, the rate of height-growth 

 increases, so that it outgrows the other broad-leaved 

 indigenous species, frequently even the Oak, reaching an 

 ultimate height of about 110 feet under favourable 

 conditions. 



Spruce, Silver Fir, Larch, "Weymouth and Scotch Pines 

 attain a greater height than Beech, though the two first 

 species grow slower during early youth. 



The volume-increment of Beech is greater than that 

 of the other indigenous broad-leaved species, but smaller 

 than that of the principal conifers. 



If grown in crowded woods, Beech rarely reaches an 

 age of more than 200 years j in the open, it attains 

 a much higher age. 



e. Reproductive Power. 



Beech commences producing full crops of good seed 

 at the age of about 60 years ; it yields heavy crops, but 

 full masts cannot be counted on at shorter intervals 

 than 5 years, and often 10 to 15 years, according to 

 local circumstances ; partial masts occur during the 

 intervals. Taking both factors together, the reproduc- 



