CHAP. VIIL] Formation of Timber Crops 165 



shade-bearing, soil-improving kinds of trees must of course at 

 first form the ruling species numerically ; but in course of time 

 they may become so reduced in number as, towards the end 

 of the period fixed for harvesting the ultimate crop, to be in 

 a minority. For example, in crops formed by Oak, Ash, and 

 Maples, with perhaps a few softwoods here and there, through- 

 out a matrix of Beech, the processes of clearing, thinning, 

 and tending throughout the various stages of growth of the 

 crop will in most cases have led to the elimination of the 

 softwoods between the thirtieth to fiftieth years, and of the 

 Ash,, Maples, and other similar woods between the sixtieth to-, 

 eightieth years ; whilst, from that time onwards, the main crop 

 will consist of Oaks, with just a sufficient proportion of Beech 

 to maintain the soil against deterioration. And if the health and ' 

 the vital energy of the Oak- trees seem to justify their retention j 

 as a remunerative crop for a prolonged period of rotation, the 

 Beech can be naturally reproduced below them as an under- 

 wood, or artificial sowing or underplanting can be resorted to,, 

 in order to prevent the soil from deteriorating or diminishing 

 in its productive capacity. 



Choice of Form and Density of the Crop. 



The choice of the most advantageous form of crop to be- 

 grown on any woodland soil is determined partly by the genera 

 selected for cultivation, partly by the nature of the soil and 

 situation, and partly by the requirements of the land-owner. 

 Should the proprietor have only a limited area under wood 

 and yet desire to obtain, if possible, an annual outturn, he will 

 naturally favour such methods as yield quick returns and only 

 involve the locking-up of least capital in the way of soil plus 

 growing stock. And where bark for tanning, or withes for 

 basket-making, are at all well paid, on soils that are favourable 

 to the growth of Oak and Willows these forms of crop are 

 amongst the most remunerative that can be grown. On low 

 wet tracts, too, Alder-coppice worked with a rotation of twenty- 



