SOWING AND PLANTING IN THE FOREST 65 



however, planted rather densely in order to prevent the 

 development of branches. In a fertile locality plants may 

 be at greater distances than on poor soils or at high elevations, 

 as the trees grow more quickly. Small plants must be planted 

 more densely than large ones, as they take longer to form a 

 thicket. Where the object is to produce small poles, or if 

 small poles can be readily sold, it will usually pay to plant 

 more densely than where only large timber is saleable. 



Of course only a small proportion of the trees planted will 

 come to maturity, but those trees which are crowded out will 

 have done the work required of them, for they will have com- 

 peted with the better trees, and will have helped to force them 

 to grow tall, straight, and free from branches. Moreover, after 

 the twentieth year such trees will be cut out in the thinnings, 

 and will often give a good revenue. Taking all things into 

 consideration, the following distances are the most favourable 

 on average soils where the intention is to grow clean timber 

 of fair size. On very favourable soils the distance may be 

 greater, while on poor soils or at very high elevations it 

 should be rather smaller. 



Owing to the great increase in cost which has taken place 

 during the war it is essential to reduce the cost by planting 

 rather farther apart than was customary before the war. 

 Larch. Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, red cedar, Weymouth pine, 

 ash and chestnut may be planted at from 5 to 6 feet apart, 

 5-| feet being a good distance under average conditions. 



Scotch pine, Corsican pine, spruce, silver fir, oak and beech 

 should be 4 feet apart, but can be spread out to 4^ feet to 

 reduce cost. 



By planting at these distances the trees will clean themselves 

 of branches sufficiently well, but it is essential that all failures 

 should be filled up the year after planting. 6 feet should 

 ordinarily be the greatest distance apart at which trees should 

 be planted, and this only exceptionally for rapid growers. 



The number of plants required for a given area, by square 



12G9 E 



