368 SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON TIMBER TREES 



young, averaging about 2 feet 6 inches or rather more each 

 year. The trees sometimes take a year or two before they 

 get established, as the roots are not very fibrous, but they 

 have great recuperative power, and, in many cases, grow 

 quickly from the actual date of transplanting. 



It will often be advisable to cut the trees over close to the 

 ground I or 2 years after planting out ; this should always 

 take place if the trees do not seem to be growing well, or if 

 they have been injured by frost 



The trees should not usually be pruned, except as to quite 

 small branches, since fungous attacks may supervene. 



All Poplars are very light-demanding, and their foliage is 

 thin ; and, per se, they will never protect the soil. 



The Black Poplars are very profitable trees to plant, and 

 good butts always sell well in the London market. 



Poplars may be grown as standards over coppice, or as 

 the standards in high forest with coppice, or they may be 

 grown in ordinary high forest. 



It is almost impossible, unless artificially pruned, to mix 

 them by single trees or alternate rows with any other species 

 except the tree willows, as their growth is so fast that neither 

 the Poplars, nor their neighbouring trees, will ever be properly 

 pruned. 



On estates, where there is a creosoting plant, Poplars 

 might be grown pure, planted 4 feet 6 inches to 5 feet apart 

 each way ; and the thinnings can then be creosoted, and used 

 for estate fencing, etc. ; but, unless creosoted, small Poplar 

 poles have practically no value at all. 



Small willows are much more saleable, as they can be used 

 for split gate hurdles ; and, when barked, can be sold, where 

 there is a market, for the best quality charcoal. 



Now, in order to provide valuable thinnings, Larch may 

 be mixed with Poplars, the latter planted sporadically over the 

 area. The Japanese Larch is preferable to the European 

 Larch for this purpose, owing to its more rapid growth 

 when young. The Japanese Larch is, however, rather 

 expensive. 



In all these cases the Poplars must be artificially pruned 



