60 SEEDING AND PLANTING 



to most external dangers is much greater. The strongest argu- 

 ment in favor of wide spacing is the lower cost and less necessity 

 for early thinnings. 



Recent researches by Guttenberg in Austria, Kunze in Saxony, 

 and Jolyet in France have emphasized the advantages of much 

 wider spacing than that formerly practiced. Thus Guttenberg 

 recommends a spacing of approximately 6 feet for pine and spruce 

 on the best soils, with a closer spacing on poorer soils or under 

 adverse conditions. Jolyet considers a spacing closer than 6 feet 

 undesirable. Although the present tendencies in Europe are 

 toward wider spacing the best practice remains conservative, pre- 

 ferring to remedy possible crowding by early thinnings rather 

 than run the risk of irreparable damage from soil deterioration. 1 

 Mayr 2 calls attention to the possible danger of the pendulum 

 swinging too far in the other direction from the extremely close 

 planting of the latter part of the last century. Most European 

 planting is still well under a spacing of 6 feet. Although a wider 

 spacing is occasionally seen in alpine regions, it is the exception 

 rather than the rule. 



1 Reuss, Hermann: Die forstliche Bestandesgriindung. S. 190. Berlin, 

 1907. 



2 Mayr, Heinrich: Waldbau auf naturgesetzlicher Grundlage. Berlin, 1909. 



