ECONOMIC VALUE OF FOREST FLORA 207 



the most important, as their power of growing on 

 moderate land and at high elevations enables them to 

 be used on a large scale. The lower value of their 

 timber is usually compensated for by their high yield 

 per acre, and their comparative freedom from disease and 

 insect attacks in this country. The bad reputation for 

 profit which most species of this group have gained in the 

 past must be largely attributed to the methods of growing 

 them, especially in regard to shade-bearers, which require 

 much closer crowding than these trees usually have been 

 given in mixed plantations. Their value greatly depends 

 upon their being grown in bulk, so that economies may 

 be effected in their growing, handling, and conversion. 

 This is the principal reason why so much better results 

 follow their cultivation on the Continent, where they 

 form practically nine-tenths of the timber grown. 



The relative values of the different species depend 

 greatly upon soil and situation, but apart from these, 

 rapidity of growth, accompanied by absence of coarse 

 branches, will probably determine the nett profit likely to 

 follow their use. Corsican and Scots pines amongst pines, 

 Sitka and Norway spruces amongst spruces, are probably 

 the best species of their respective genera. With the 

 first named, special care must be taken in transplanting, 

 otherwise no difficulty of a greater nature than is ex- 

 perienced with other trees need occur. Amongst silver 

 firs it is doubtful if any can be found which are better 

 all round than the common European tree, provided it is 

 protected against late frosts by proper cultural methods. 

 Of the American species, Abies grandis would appear to 

 be the most promising, but it is not known whether it 

 will stand wind as well as Abies pectinata, although it 

 is less liable to injury from late frosts. 



Amongst broad-leaved trees beech is probably the 

 only one adapted for growing on a large scale on com- 



