THE CARE OF YOUNG PLANTATIONS. 109 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE CARE OF YOUNG PLANTATIONS. 



1. Protection afforded by the older trees to young and 

 growing ones : 



Young forest-trees are very susceptible to many ex- 

 ternal influences, as, for instance: frost, aridity, extreme 

 sunshine, excessive growth of grasses and weeds, etc. 

 In the natural reproduction of forests we are able to pro- 

 tect the saplings and seedlings during the trying years 

 of their first growth by retaining a proportionate number 

 of the larger trees, which, in due time, and with the 

 growing up of the young trees, are gradually cut down, 

 till, at last, nothing but the younger trees remain. 



We may also employ the same means in the artificial 

 reproduction of forests, either by growing first a hardy 

 kind of trees, under the protection of which, at the 

 time of the first thinning, ten or fifteen years later, the 

 more tender species, intended for the future stock of 

 trees, may be planted ; or, by sowing or planting both 

 kinds of trees together, selecting for the protecting trees 

 those varieties that are fast growers, thus enabling them 

 to afford shelter to the more slowly growing tender ones. 



Upon denuded woodlands, especially upon such as are 

 surrounded by natural forests, hardier and quick grow- 

 ing trees, as, for instance, poplars, birches, willows and 

 even pines very often spring up by themselves. In such 

 cases, we have only to plant the better and more tender 

 kinds mixed with the hardier saplings, and we may ex- 

 pect an undisturbed, continuous growth of the tender 

 trees under the shelter of the hardier ones. 



Even bushes and shrubs may be made to serve as 

 nurses for young trees. They have the advantage of 

 being the cheapest means for reaching the purpose aimed 



