Thinning Plantations 145 



plantation tree in a healthy, growing condition, and to 

 produce a trunk of useful dimensions. This may, however, 

 be explained by the fact that the almost entire absence of 

 large limbs and branches, which in some cases would amount 

 to one-fifth the total bulk of the tree, renders the amount 

 of sap, and consequently of leaves, required proportionately 

 less, the nutriment being mainly elaborated in the building 

 of the trunk. 



Independent altogether of the forests of northern Europe, 

 Canada, etc., which have grown up naturally, examples 

 might be given in our own country the native Fir forests 

 in the Highlands of Scotland, the valuable Beech woods on 

 the Chiltern Hills, and a few Larch plantations in Yorkshire 

 and Bedfordshire where trees averaging 70 ft. in height, 

 growing at from 4 to 6 yards apart, and with only a tuft of 

 foliage atop, may be seen. It is only, however, by long and 

 careful study and attention to different trees at different 

 stages of their growth that any idea can be formed of the 

 amount of branches and foliage required for preparing the 

 sap that will be necessary for the profitable yearly increase 

 of the trunk until maturity is arrived at. 



The questions now to be dealt with in growing timber for 

 purely economical purposes are : (1) At what age should 

 thinning be commenced ? (2) To what extent should it be 

 engaged in ? (3) What time should elapse between each 

 thinning ? And (4) Which trees should be removed ? 



At the outset, it may be well to mention, that in so far 

 as any of the above questions are concerned, no hard and 

 fast line can be laid down as to the universal management 

 of plantations, each tract of wood, and even different parts 

 of the same wood, according to the particular species of 

 tree, quality of soil, altitude, and exposure, being dealt with 

 on its own peculiar footing. Many serious mistakes have 

 been committed, and irreparable damage done, by treating 

 every plantation alike and according to the rule-of-thumb 

 method. Upon the manner in which thinning is performed, 

 much of the ultimate success of a plantation will depend, 

 and it is a matter requiring great tact, forethought, and 

 discrimination, which can only be acquired by long experi- 



