TENDING OF WOODS 77 



be left to grow into large timber, the thinnings are now made 

 more heavily, so as to gradually isolate the crowns of a 

 selected number of the best trees. At this time the thinning 

 takes place chiefly among the dominating trees themselves, 

 the dominated and partially suppressed trees being left to 

 cover the soil ; in addition the woods may be underplanted if 

 the crop consists of light-demanding species. 



The trees to be cut out in a thinning should be carefully 

 marked while the leaf is still on them, as the effect of the 

 removal of a tree can then be more easily estimated ; they 

 are cut in winter. A good rule for the marker is not to mark 

 any tree unless he can put into words a reason why the tree 

 should be cut. If it is doubtful whether a particular tree 

 should be cut or not, it is better to leave it, as it can always be 

 cut out later on, while if it is once cut it cannot be put back 

 again ! It is also best to mark lightly at first, as some of the 

 trees to be left may be damaged in carrying out the thinning, 

 and it is well to have others to take their place. After the 

 cutting has been made, the area can be gone over again to 

 remove any tree which it is then seen should come out. Care 

 must be taken not to mark a tree simply because it is of bad 

 shape, as such a tree may be doing useful work in clearing the 

 branches off a better tree, and is helping to form cover over 

 the ground. Badly-shaped trees, which are otherwise doing 

 good at present, will be removed in the later thinnings. 



By keeping woods fairly dense while they are rapidly 

 growing in height we cause the trees to become tall, straight, 

 and free from branches, while by making the thinnings heavier 

 towards the end of the principal height-growth we let in light 

 to the crowns, which then enlarge, and, owing to the increased 

 foliage, more food material is formed and the stems increase 

 rapidly in girth. If we keep the woods too open to start with 

 we get a small number per acre of short thick trees, while 

 if they are kept too dense we get a large number of tall, 

 lanky trees. The proper state is to keep between the two 



