402 SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON TIMBER TREES 



very persistent ; and the canopy for the first 30 years must 

 be very close, so as to prune them off naturally and prevent 

 them from attaining any considerable size. 



The plants grow quickly from the seedling stage onwards, 

 and small plants, not over 4 years old, suffer but little check 

 in being transplanted. 



On ordinary heather land, with which the trees are 

 naturally associated, I- or 2-year-old plants will be quite big 

 enough to plant out. 



On grass land 3- and 4-year-old plants must usually be 

 planted. Provided the heads of the plants be free, Scots Pine 

 suffer less than most trees from a soil covering of grass. This is 

 also the case with Corsican Pine, Hornbeam, Birch, Sycamore, 

 and Norway Maple. The foliage of Scots Pine is compara- 

 tively thin, and pure crops cannot usually protect the soil 

 after about the 4<Dth year. However, they are not very 

 suitable for being underplanted ; l and, if the land be good 

 enough to grow an undercrop, it will seldom be advisable to 

 plant Scots Pine, except where it is used as a pioneer crop, 

 as in frosted localities on good soil, where it may be planted, 

 so as to render possible the introduction of a more valuable 

 species at a later date. 



Generally speaking, Scots Pine should only be grown as 

 even-aged high forest. It is quite unsuited for standards 

 over coppice. 



Where Scots Pine must be grown, it will generally be 

 advisable to grow it pure ; for, mixed crops, except the mixtures 

 be by patches, are seldom satisfactory. 



There are, however, one or two mixtures by alternate 

 rows, etc., that can be recommended. 



Scots and Corsican Pine may be grown together, especially 

 if it be desired to have a mature crop of Corsican Pine, and if 

 the success of a pure crop of Corsican Pine be doubtful. 



The Corsican Pines grow much quicker when young than 

 the Scots Pines ; so that the latter must be removed if the 



1 The necessary partial clearances may result in the production of 

 unduly wide annual rings to the detriment of the technical quality of the 

 timber. 



