INJURIOUS INFLUENCE OF THE ELEMENTS. 131 



by heavy foliaged trees. Should the management of the 

 forest require giving the trees some more light in order 

 to increase the accretion of wood, the complete clearing 

 by a total felling should not longer be postponed than is 

 unavoidably necessary, as in the open space the aug- 

 mented falling of dew will benefit a young plantation 

 more than if the seedlings are grown beneath isolated 

 single trees ; under which they are apt, owing to (he re- 

 flected rays of the sun to be burnt and to dry up. In 

 regions where the sun is known to injure tree-growth, 

 Scotch pine (pinus sylvestris) should be cultivated ex- 

 clusively. As is well-known, this tree grows where other 

 kinds are regularly burnt up ; but as soon as the pines 

 commence to show openings there may be planted among 

 them other and more valuable kinds of trees which, 

 unprotected, would not stand long continued sun heat. 



The winds produce evil effects by desiccating the soil 

 and blowing jiway the fallen leaves which cover the 

 ground. Both troubles can be avoided, or at least less- 

 ened, by retaining the fullest possible density of the tree, 

 growth, especially at the margins of the woods. Should 

 this not be practicable the establishment of so called 

 "wood-mantels" as described on page 129 is advised. 

 The fallen leaves being better retained at the ground 

 when there is a small growth of grasses, it may be some 

 times advantageous to open the forest a little more, caus- 

 ing thereby the growth of a thin grass layer upon the 

 bare forest-soil. At any rate, wide openings in the woods 

 should never be allowed ; but if the same by any accident 

 occur, planting of hardy trees and the intermixture of 

 conifers with folinged trees should be undertaken at once, 

 omitting the removal of the stumps of felled trees. 



Excessive rains are apt to do much damage to forests, 

 especially to the various cultures which, in a properly 

 conducted forest-management, will invariably huve to be 

 undertaken. Planted seedlings cannot be much injured 



