BRITISH FOREST TRKKS 169 



Mixed Forests with Beech as the ruling Species are un- 

 doubtedly the form in which beech is of most sylvicultural 

 importance in Britain, and even then chiefly as far as the 

 development of the subordinate species is concerned, the 

 aim being to increase the production of timber, and to 

 improve its quality, so as to obtain from any given area the 

 most remunerative returns, whilst duly protecting the pro- 

 ductive capacity of the. soil. This object can be attained 

 by a suitable admixture of oak, ash, maple, sycamore, elm and 

 soft woods among deciduous broad-leaved species, and of silver 

 and Douglas firs, spruce, larch, and pines among conifers. 

 Soil and situation naturally determine generally in favour of 

 one or other species, and regulate the proportion to which 

 it should be introduced into the ruling species or matrix, as 

 also whether it is advisable to give the admixture the form 

 of groups, patches, rows or merely scattered individuals ; 

 local demands and the state of the local market, however, 

 are also entitled to their full consideration in regard to the 

 choice of species and of the treatment to be accorded to 

 them. Where groups or patches are formed, they should 

 usually be circular in shape, in order that the soil may 

 derive full benefit from the ruling species. Oak can be 

 introduced in all four ways, but admixture in groups, or in 

 knots or patches, is preferable in order to facilitate tending ; 

 ash, elm, sycamore, maple, softwoods, larch, and pine, are best 

 scattered among the beech in single individuals only, or merely 

 in small knots or rows ; silver fir is most easily tended 

 in groups, although quite capable of developing well in the 

 other forms of admixture ; spruce should also be introduced 

 in groups, or even in clumps of larger size, where poorer soil 

 than the average makes this step advisable, for when 

 grown in small knots, rows, or scattered individuals it 

 rapidly becomes predominant, breaks out into a larger 

 crown of heavy-foliaged branches and sprays, and injures 



