170 



Studies in Forestry 



normal and most advantageous degree of density of canopy 

 is attained by about 3,000 stems per acre, then it stands to 

 reason that the formation of young crops, by planting at a 

 distance of 4 ft. by 4 ft. (2,722 per acre), would entail loss by 

 delaying the formation of canopy; whilst planting at 3 ft. by 3 ft. 

 (4,840 per acre) might, even after 'allowing for casualties, go to 

 the other disadvantageous extreme of crowding the plantation. 

 Many of the older plantations in Scotland that I have seen 

 were undoubtedly carried out without due consideration being 

 given to the desirability of having canopy formed within 

 fifteen to twenty-five years after the formation of the crop ; 

 hence the productive capacity of the soil cannot possibly 

 have been utilized to its fullest extent. 



A little consideration will show that even in the case of 

 plantations which have been slow in attaining full canopy, 

 i. e. which have not been formed of the most advantageous 

 density, the crop may still form overcrowded woods between 

 twenty to forty years of age, owing to the tendency to rami- 

 fication induced by the individual plants having had larger 

 growing-space than was requisite, or would have been dictated 

 by sound economical considerations. Want of knowledge of 

 the most advantageous density for young crops is undoubtedly 

 one of the great faults of British sylviculture. 



For planting, subject of course to variations according to 

 the nature of the soil and the situation, Gayer 1 recommends 

 the following distances : 



For shade-bearing genera and the Oak. 



Waldbau, 3rd edit. 1889, p. 355. 



