SNOWBREAK. 571 



fall between the plants. The plants should be somewhat 

 closely planted wherever heavy snow is to be feared, so that 

 they may afford one another mutual support against the snow. 



v. Avoid sowings in the open, planting with strong trans- 

 plants (no multiple planting) and that have not been too 

 closely lined out in nurseries, so as to produce strong, 

 resisting plants. 



It is better to plant in lines, which should be parallel to 

 the direction of the prevailing wind, so that snow can be 

 driven between the rows of plants. At lower elevations 

 the rows should be 3J to 5 feet apart, at higher elevations 

 2j to 3J feet, to prevent the branches being torn out. The 

 plants may be 2J to 3J feet apart in the rows. Wider planting 

 has given bad results in the Harz. 



vi. An excessive growth of grass, bracken or other weeds 

 should be removed from young growth, as it may be pressed 

 down by the snow over the plants and kill them. 



~b. Protection during Thinnings. 



i. The most efficient measure to protect woods against 

 snowbreak is to make timely thinnings, in accordance with 

 sylvicultural rules, and suitable to the circumstances of each 

 case. In woods endangered by snowbreak, thinnings should 

 commence early, be frequently repeated, and increase in 

 intensity with the age of the trees. At the same time great 

 care must be taken in the first thinning of densely stocked 

 pole-woods. 



ii. All injuries to the bark of trees, including resin-tapping, 

 must be avoided. 



iii. In specially valuable young pole-woods, the snow may 

 be shaken from the trees ; this measure was successfully 

 applied to 10 to 20-year-old Scots pines in Wiirttemberg and 

 Silesia in 1868, but can evidently be carried out only on a 

 small scale. 



c. During the Principal Fellings. 



i. Felling by the selection or group methods should be 

 followed in high mountain regions, on peaks and ridges, as 

 this favours uneven heights in the trees. Uniform covering 

 of the crop with snow is thus prevented. 



