SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON SILVER FIR. 285 



d. Shape and Development. 



The Silver Fir develops a straight and undivided stem, 

 occasional forking excepted, with comparatively thin 

 branches. The crown maintains a conical shape until 

 the height-growth has been Completed, when the top 

 becomes flat; in free-standing trees it extends almost 

 down to the ground, and even in crowded woods to 

 nearly one-half the length of the stem. It has a fairly 

 deep-going root-system. 



Silver Fir is of very slow height-growth during the 

 first 10 to 15 years of life, then the rate increases to 

 such an extent that it reaches ultimately a greater 

 height than any other British forest tree except 

 Spruce, and the recently introduced Douglas Fir. 

 Woods of an average height of 120 feet are frequently 

 seen, and single trees occasionally attain a height of 

 150 feet. 



In volume increment Silver Fir is probably only sur- 

 passed by the Douglas Fir. Silver Fir rarely reaches 

 an age of more than 300 years. 



e. Reproductive Power. 



Silver Fir produces full crops of seed from the 70th 

 year onwards. Such crops are but light, and they occur 

 at intervals of two to three years in favourable localities. 

 On the whole the reproductive power by seed is not great. 

 Keproduction from the stool may be said to be nil. 



/. Character and Composition of Woods. 



Silver Fir is excellently suited for pure woods ; it has 

 a dense foliage, and maintains a cover overhead to an 



