128 Studies in Forestry [CHAP. vi. 



length and full-woodedness of bole, straightness, and freedom 

 from knots or twists), and for the highest possible financial 

 returns, is undoubtedly to confine the individual stems within 

 the least growing-space sufficing for their actual requirements 

 as to light, warmth, and the normal activity of their assimilative 

 organs, until the main growth in height has been completed, and 

 until natural demands for freer exposure to light and air, and 

 greater lateral expansion of the crown of foliage, can no longer 

 profitably remain unheeded. Crops, however, which have been 

 originally formed and treated with the express view of yielding 

 crooked stems, cannot be forced later on to form fine, straight, 

 clean boles showing a minimum of tendency to tapering growth 

 near the top-end. Such existing crops must first be cleared and 

 regenerated before others can be formed and produced with 

 the express intention of utilizing the productive capacity of 

 the soil in the fullest and most economical manner. 



And, on the other hand, whenever present market rates offer 

 inducements for the speedy clearance and sale of certain 

 classes of timber, advantage can much more easily and con- 

 veniently be taken of the favourable opportunities of disposal 

 without at the same time threatening the well-being of the 

 woodlands by departing to a greater or less extent from the 

 normal methods of treatment that may have been forecast by 

 the provisions of the Working Plan. And a Working Plan 

 must be the basis of all operations in any well-managed 

 forests. 



In short, when the growing-stock consists of one series of falls 

 of mixed woods, varying in age from zero to maturity, in place 

 of having a similar series for each of the species of trees grown 

 by themselves in pure crops, the Working Plan is capable of 

 much greater elasticity of treatment. It affords larger scope 

 for the somewhat premature utilization of portions of crops, 

 whenever the market may be exceptionally favourable for that 

 particular kind or assortment of timber, without necessarily 

 exposing the soil to deteriorating influences likely to weaken 



