CHAP. XL] Affects of U nderplanting 247 



mately be dearly bought through the deterioration that must 

 take place on any soils but those exceptionally circumstanced 

 with regard to insolation and winds. 



In the above the underwood has been dealt with only as 

 regards its effects on the growth and development of the 

 standard trees ; it deserves, however, some consideration on 

 its own account. It will practically be found that even when, 

 at the time of the underwood being formed, all the standards 

 appear sound and healthy, individual trees become sickly or 

 lag behind in development to such an extent as to render 

 their utilization advisable without attempting to retain them 

 till the rest of the crop is mature. Where there is no under- 

 wood, this means that on such places the productive capacity 

 of the soil is either not utilized at all, or at any rate not utilized 

 to its full extent ; but with underwood already formed, it can 

 grow up into the blanks to be harvested along with the standard 

 crop when this attains its financial maturity. In such cases 

 Spruce, or Silver and Douglas Firs, although not in general 

 attaining first-class dimensions, will yield better results than 

 Beech or Hornbeam ; and, owing to the smaller growing-space 

 requisite for the normal development of their crowns, they can 

 often contribute a very fair return for the costs of formation 

 and the sub-tenancy of the soil. 



When the standards are mature, the underwood has fulfilled 

 its duty, and may either be cleared away at once in order to 

 admit of their natural regeneration, or may be retained longer 

 and treated as high forest, at any rate in groups or patches show- 

 ing good promise of fair outturn in timber. But, in accordance 

 with the purely actuarial principles which should mainly guide 

 the owners of woodlands throughout Britain, and in view of 

 the comparatively small and unremunerative market for fire 

 wood, the clearance of the underwood will usually precede the 

 reproduction and utilization of the standards. Hence, for the 

 underplanting of the deciduous, light-demanding species of 

 our forest trees Oak, Ash, Maple, and Sycamore the Beech, 



