CHAPTER XIV 

 THINNING PLANTATIONS 



IN the successful rearing of timber trees for profit there is, 

 perhaps, no other branch of more importance than a good 

 knowledge of the art of thinning, and, at the same time, 

 one on which so great a diversity of opinion exists. 



Thinning plantations, be they old or young, must always 

 be subject to great modification, according to the nature of 

 the trees and soil, or ultimate design of the plantation 

 being operated upon, and is a matter requiring great tact, 

 forethought, and discrimination, and this can only be 

 acquired by long experience and by those having a good 

 insight into the peculiarities and properties of our forest 

 trees. 



The same rule as regards thinning will not apply to, say, 

 fir, hardwood, and mixed plantations ; and far less will it 

 hold good in the case of an ornamental and a profitable 

 wood. No universal rule can, however, be laid down for 

 thinning, but general principles can be given that will be 

 sufficient for the guidance of those who have to undertake 

 such work. 



In thinning any plantation two important points are to 

 be borne in mind first, cut away all diseased, dead and 

 dying trees ; second, study the relationship of trees and 

 soil, and act accordingly. To be more explicit, we might 

 say that in the first case, the removal of all dead and dying 

 trees is a necessity, and that being done, one can proceed 

 with the disposal of the standards to be left. In the second 

 case, by suiting the trees to the soil, at least as far as possible, 

 great benefit results, and an instance of this that came 

 under our own observation lately will be given as an example. 



141 



