SILVER FIR 415 



and, like most conifers, succeeds best if planted out late in 

 the spring. It is very slow growing when young, trees 12 

 years old being often only 6 or 8 feet high. It bears an 

 immense amount of shade ; more even than the Beech. Its 

 side branches are not readily killed ; and a very close canopy 

 must be retained until the trees are 50 feet high. In the 

 latter part of its rotation, its growth is very rapid indeed. It 

 may be grown in even-aged high forest ; but it should 

 almost invariably be raised under a light shelter-wood, so as 

 to protect the young crop from frosts and sun. It should be 

 grown pure, or else mixed by patches or groups ; for, its slow 

 growth will prevent it being pruned by practically any other 

 trees ; nor will these other trees be pruned by the Silver Fir, 

 for the vigorous growths of the latter will be too late to effect 

 the desired end. 



Silver Fir should, however, as a general rule, be used only 

 for underplanting, for which purpose it is admirably suited. 

 As the undercrop in two-storied high forest, it will generally 

 give a better financial return than if grown as even-aged 

 high forest. When used for underplanting, the overcrop 

 can be removed when the Silver Fir are about 40 years 

 old, and the latter should then be allowed to grow on 

 to maturity. 



Also, apart from the question of the advisability of raising 

 crops from home-grown seed, Silver Fir can be grown under 

 the group and selection systems. 



Natural regeneration is very easy in its native country, 

 and it is often found in the south and west of England, and 

 in Ireland ; but, it is doubtful if these trees will retain the 

 vigour of, or produce as good seed as, their parents. 



For experimental purposes, the seed from these self-sown 

 English trees should be carefully collected, and the young 

 trees raised therefrom should be carefully watched. Ultim- 

 ately, a generation of acclimatised trees might be reared, 

 whose seed could be relied upon, and which would, probably, 

 then be preferable to any imported seed ; and the extreme 

 tenderness as to frosts might thus be eradicated. 



Rotation. The best rotation is from 80 to 100 years. 



