190 THE DEVELOPMEN'T OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



system, therefore, one is forced to the conclusion that 

 even-aged high forest, formed of suitable mixtures or 

 occasionally of pure crops, varying with soil and situation, 

 nmst be the practice generally followed, and the lines 

 on which the woods of the future must be worked. 

 This means that the practice of the last fifty years need 

 only be modified in detail to bring it up to the required 

 standard. The majority of systems, when reduced to 

 everyday language, simply consist in planting the right 

 trees on the proper soils and situations, and producing 

 the greatest quantity of saleable timber at the least 

 expense to the grower. This can only be done by intel- 

 ligent treatment and personal care on the part of the 

 forester, and not by an}' slavish adherence to stereotyped 

 methods and formulse. Judicious planting, careful thin- 

 ning, and a choice of a good time for marketing the 

 timber are the essential virtues for any system, and 

 without them none is a success. 



