1 3 o BRITISH FOREST TREES 



girth of the top end of the bole, and, thanks to the strong, 

 quick, recuperative power of silver fir, this process can be 

 carried out without much fear of the quality of the timber 

 being prejudiced. 



In the reproduction of mixed forests some attention 

 must be given to the silver fir during the youthful period 

 of growth, as otherwise species like beech and spruce, 

 when they have once won a material advantage in growth 

 in height, are apt to maintain it permanently afterwards, 

 for the silver fir is not able to attain its normal energetic 

 development under the strong and repressive side-shade 

 cast upon it by these densely foliaged trees when pre- 

 dominant. Such mixed forests of beech and silver fir 

 are best reproduced naturally, with the result that the 

 young crop is scattered in mixed patches and groups 

 over the area ; when the mature crop consists princi- 

 pally of silver fir with spruce or Scots pine, natural 

 reproduction of the silver fir is first carried out, and then 

 an admixture of the subordinate species in groups of 

 transplants takes place. 



For the formation of new forests of silver fir, or its 

 introduction as a subordinate in forests of other ruling 

 species, sowing and planting are both applicable, although 

 as a rule planting in general finds greater favour, and 

 sowing is confined to places where there is some canopy 

 overhead or other protection against rank grass, frost, 

 cold winds, &c. A heavy fall of leaves is also apt to 

 choke the young seedling growth, and even the heavy 

 shade of beech standards is less beneficial than the 

 lighter canopy of oak, pine, or larch. 



Natural Reproduction. Before the clearing for repro- 

 duction is made, in order to stimulate the parent trees to 

 increased formation of flowering-buds (cones), preparatory 

 fellings are usually carried out, which are in reality only 



