26 



clearing' planted 20 ft. by 20 ft. or 108 trees per acre. This will, 

 as a rule, come into tapping at 4| years with an average number of 

 60 to 70 trees per acre, during the next year the number per acre 

 will be increased to, say, 90, leaving about 10 trees pei; acre, which are 

 still too small. I have made allowance for the loss of eight trees 

 from disease, wind or other causes. The spread of a normal five-year- 

 old tree on an up-country estate is, sa}^, 18 to 20 ft., if then all trees 

 are of a uniform size and shape there is a superficial area to allow 

 for growth. 



The remaining 10 trees have probably been stunted in growth 

 for one of the following reasons : (1) poor soil, (2) deformed roots, 

 (3) poor jat of tree. Tliese trees will naturally grow at a slower 

 rate than their neighbours and if retained might possibl^'^ be 

 tapped in their sixth or seventh year, the yield from them will 

 probably be poorer, and I consider that, as a general rule, as soon as 

 90 per cent, of the trees in a clearing planted 20 ft. by 20 ft. are 

 tappable the balance might be dispensed with right away. It 

 is both easier and cheaper to cut them out while still small. After 

 this it should be the policy of the estate to take out trees by -selection 

 each year. Tlie following are the measurements showing the spread 

 of trees taken from clearings of normal growth at various ages : 



6-year old 22 ft. 



8 „ 27/29 ft. 



10 „ 28/30 ft. 



The number to be taken out yearly will depend on the average 

 growth of the estate and no rule can be laid down other than this — viz., 

 that as soon as the natui^al development of the trees shows signs of 

 being checked the number of trees per acre should be reduced. The 

 first and most obvious signs are a large number of lower branches dying 

 off and an upward tendency on the branches in their attempts to get 

 sunlight. 



The case of young clearings is comparatively simple and its 

 practical application clearly shown by the following records : 



A 1 Clearing. 



„ A i. 1 No. of trees Yield Yield 



Year. Area tapped. ^^^ ^^re. per tree. per acre. 



7th year ... 120 ... 121 ... 2.93 ... 355 



8th „ ... 120 ... 86 ... 464 ... 401 



9th „ ... 120 ... 77 ... 6.69 ... 533 



It should be clearly understood that in the case of young- 

 clearings thinned out or widely planted originally, the yield per acre 

 will not be as large as that on a closely planted estate. The effect 

 will probably not be felt before the third or fourth year of tapping 

 but it will endanger the health and yield of the estate in subsequent 

 years when the estate should normally be increasing in value. 



