158 TENDING OF YOUNG HIGH FOREST, ETC. 



restore the balance between leaf and root activity, and the 

 tree will continue to thrive. 



But suppose big branches be cut off such trees as Oak 

 (or those which have a tendency to throw out epicormic 

 branches) when they are mature or nearly mature, and whilst 

 they are still vigorous, the result will be to actually induce 

 stag-headedness in a few years. The reason of this is 

 because a state of hypertrophy will be induced ; the roots 

 will supply more water and soil nutrients to the crown than 

 are required, and this will have the effect of flushing latent 

 buds along the stem ; when, however, these latter have grown 

 into branches they will make an additional demand upon the 

 roots for moisture and soil nutrients which cannot be 

 supplied, the result being that the epicormic branches 

 appropriate the soil nutrients, to the detriment of the crown 

 of the tree, which consequently becomes stag-headed. 



(5) The Pruning of Dead Branches. 



This would always be advisable if the expense could be 

 incurred. In young plantations, and especially Larch planta- 

 tions, they are often knocked off with a stout stick. But 

 unless additional light is required for underplanting it would 

 be better to leave their removal to natural agencies. For if 

 they are so small that they can be thus knocked off, they will 

 fall off of their own weight in a few years' time, when they 

 will probably come out at the " socket." Whereas in knocking 

 them off a small snag will often be left ; and inasmuch as it is 

 deprived of the leverage exerted by the weight of the whole 

 branch, it will be many more years before it finally falls or 

 rots away. 



TABLES OP THINNINGS. 



The following tables give data showing how pure crops 

 should be thinned in even-aged high forest. In all cases it is 

 presumed that three-year old trees have been planted : 



