METHODS AND PRACTICE 189 



high forest can alone give a high yield of first-class 

 commercial timber, and that little or nothing is gained 

 by introducing or perpetuating troublesome or obsolete 

 systems which have repeatedly proved themselves to be 

 financial failures under existing conditions in this country. 

 The most desirable form in which even-aged high forest 

 should be worked greatly depends upon species and 

 localities, but the one-storeyed form is best suited for 

 probably 90 per cent, of British woodlands. Two-storeyed 

 woods resulting from underplanting are seldom profitable, 

 owing to the great expense involved in protecting the 

 second crop against ground game. Where this expense 

 can be avoided it is doubtful if much is gained by this 

 system, except in the case of larch. With this species a 

 heavy thinning at twenty to forty years of age may remove 

 blistered trees, and favour the recovery of the remainder, 

 and in such cases underplanting is a necessity. This 

 system has been extensively followed by Mr. Munro-Fer- 

 guson, and several wood managers, but how far it could 

 be repeated generally is an open question. In exposed 

 localities, free thinning after a complete canopy is formed 

 is a dangerous operation, and may lead to the blowing 

 down or stunting of the main crop. If thinning is too 

 moderate the success of the second crop is affected, and 

 little benefit may be derived from it. Beech, silver fir, and 

 one or two other good shade-bearers may succeed, how- 

 ever, under a fairly thick larch canopy, and on soils likely 

 to bring larch to maturity the plan has a fair chance of 

 success, and is particularly beneficial on dry soils. As, 

 however, practically all the advantages of underplanting 

 can be secured by suitable mixtures, it will probably 

 remain one of those doubtful practices in British forestry 

 which most foresters will leave to text-books and demon- 

 stration areas. 

 After all that can be said for or against any particular 



