PLANTING 15 



The disadvantages of close-planting are two- 

 fold ; first the expense, and secondly the effect 

 on the trees and on the soil. 



Trees which are planted together closely, 

 almost immediately commence a struggle for 

 existence ; in this struggle a large number of 

 the trees die. Both theory and experience seem 

 to justify the view that those young trees which 

 emerge successfully from the early struggle for 

 existence may have their vitality permanently 

 impaired by it, if it begins while the trees are 

 very young, and therefore weakly. Further, a 

 struggle for existence of nearly 5,000 young 

 trees on an acre of poor ground is a serious 

 strain on the fertility of the soil. Close-planting 

 increases the warmth in the plantation and 

 impedes the free circulation of air. Warmth 

 and exclusion of air are highly predisposing 

 causes of disease to all trees, but particularly 

 to very young trees whose vitality has been 

 impaired by a premature struggle for existence. 



The advocates for close-planting urge that a 

 struggle for existence among the trees is necessary 

 to stimulate upward growth and to keep the 

 stems free from lower boughs, which produce 

 knots and so reduce the value of the timber. 

 Granting that this is quite accurate, it does not 



