44 Tree Planting and Tree Felling 



which trees grow best. In making plantations the 

 wants of different kinds of trees must be studied as 

 those which grow well on the outskirts of a wood might 

 not thrive in the middle. Again, in a mixed wood it 

 is necessary to place shade-bearing trees like beeches 

 and silver firs under such light-loving ones as the 

 birch and oak, when it would not be possible to do the 

 opposite. Some trees like the oak, elm and larch are 

 far more particular as to where they will grow than is, 

 for instance, the pine. When farmers began to take all 

 the best land for growing corn the pine was often the 

 only tree that would grow on the poor high-lying ground 

 that was left. This is how it happens that in European 

 forests the pine is commoner than any other tree. The 

 science that tells you things of this kind and makes 

 itself responsible for the preservation and care of woods 

 is called Forestry. 



Suppose now that you have a tract of land that has 

 been allowed to run wild for some years, and that you 

 have decided to turn it into a plantation, knowing that, 

 although you will have to wait a long time before you 

 get any timber and hence any return for your money, 

 it will in time pay steadily. 



The first thing to be done is to clear the ground, 

 removing any bushes or coarse grass. You must then 

 consider the nature of the soil and what trees are likely 

 to do well there. If the earth only runs down a short 

 distance, and there is rock or sand underneath, you will 

 only be able to grow trees like the pine and beech whose 

 roots grow near the surface. If the ground is low lying 

 and inclined to be damp the ash or poplar would be 

 suitable trees as they like plenty of water ; if on the 

 other hand it is very dry and sandy it may be that 



