43 



by the so-called thinnings, by which the quantity and quality of the crop is 

 increased. To understand this, it is necessary to know that trees form 

 wood by the function of the foliage under the influence of light. 



Hence, a tree with much foliage and unimpeded access of light is 

 bound to make much wood. These conditions are fulfilled when the tree is 

 allowed to grow in open stand, as on a lawn, without close neighbors, who 

 would cut off some of the light supply. 



But trees under such conditions grow mostly into branches, the crown 

 'being developed at the expense of the bole, which remains short and more 

 or less conical in shape, of little commercial or technical use, except for 

 fire wood. When the trunk is sawn into boards, every branch appears as a 

 defect, known as a knot, which makes it unfit for use in the better class of 

 work, and thus while the total quantity of wood in the tree is increased 

 by the open stand, it is done at the expense of quality. 



The object of the forester, however, is not simply to grow wood, but 

 to produce wood of such form and quality as is useful in the arts. The ideal 

 tree for him is one with a long, cylindrical, branchless trunk, bearing its 

 crown high up, which when cut into lumber produces the largest amount 

 of material clear of knots, of straight fibre, and giving the least amount of 

 waste or fire wood. 



His aim, therefore, must be to so place his trees that, while the largest 

 possible amount of wood shall be produced, it shall be deposited in the most 

 useful form also. 



