CHAP, viii.] Formation of Timber Crops 



For light-demanding genera. 



171 



Of course, when close planting is carried out, the young 

 plantations and thickets require very frequent and careful 

 tending in the way of clearings, before the regular thinnings 

 can be begun. 



With reference to sowing, the amount of clean seed of 

 average quality recommended by Ney as sufficient for the 

 production of a moderate density of crop on soils of fair 

 average quality, may be seen on reference to the author's 

 British Forest Trees , 1893, page 50. 



Choice of Method of Formation or of Reproduction 

 of the Crop. 



The great advantage derivable from artificial reproduction 

 of forest crops consists in not being in any way dependent on 

 the occurrence of favourable seed-years, as nowadays seed 

 of all sorts can easily be obtained of good quality from 

 nurserymen in whatever quantity may be desired for sowing 

 out direct or for rearing seedlings and transplants in nurseries. 

 That greater uniformity and regularity of the crop can be 

 obtained artificially than when regeneration takes place natur- 

 ally, either under parent standards or from seed shed from 

 mature trees flanking the area to be re-wooded, hardly requires 

 demonstration. As the methods of sowing or planting are 

 usually simple, and as the operations are confined to a smaller 

 area than when several annual falls are grouped together for 

 gradual clearance, supervision and control are undoubtedly 

 at the same time easier. 



