1 84 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



after the first, and the others after similar periods, but these 

 can be hastened where danger from frost or weeds is not to 

 be apprehended, or where the soil is deficient in moisture. 

 On the average, the final clearance is effected in about ten to 

 twelve years from the mast-year. On warm dry exposures it 

 has often to be carried out within six to eight years ; whilst 

 on cool aspects with moist soil it may be extended over 

 fifteen to twenty years, during which period it should be 

 conducted very gradually. 



Artificial Formation and Reproduction of beech woods 

 takes place, as a rule, only under the shade and shelter of 

 standard trees, though not necessarily of its own species, for 

 under the shelter of pine or larch the seedling growth 

 thrives even better than under parent standards. Where 

 'such shelter is available the preference is given to sowing, 

 but where young woods are to be laid out in the open, 

 planting is almost universally adopted. In all cases in which 

 light-loving species like oak, pine and larch, or patches of 

 elm, ash, and maples, have to be provided with underwood, 

 sowing generally yields better results than planting, and at 

 a less cost. 



Sowing is usually performed by dibbling in a few beech- 

 nuts at distances of about twenty to twenty-four inches, or else 

 sowing broad-cast or in rills either in rows or patches where 

 some special preparation of the soil has taken place for the re- 

 ception of the seed. Whether sowing should be carried out in 

 autumn or in spring, depends for the most part on the danger 

 to be apprehended locally from frost ; this also determines 

 the soil-covering that should be given to seed sown in autumn, 

 for a covering of over one inch of earth retards the pro- 

 cess of germination appreciably. As the result of experi- 

 ence, autumn sowing is preferred on 'the higher hilly land, 

 and spring sowing on the lower tracts and uplands, and more 

 particularly on warm southern and south-western exposures. 



