DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED WOODS. 73 



{(1.) Mistakes made in the selection of species can be more 

 easily rectified in mixed, than in pure woods. The suitability 

 of a locality for a certain species is not always apparent at the 

 outset ; in the case of mixed woods the species which is least 

 suitable can be removed at the time of thinning, 



{('.) For the above reasons, mixed woods will, in many cases, 

 yield better returns than pure woods. 



( /".) Finally, mixed woods increase the artistic beauty of a 



countr3\ 



2. Disadvantages of Mixed JVoods. 



It is frequently described as a disadvantage of mixed woods, 

 that their natural regeneration is more difficult, than that of 

 pure woods. No doubt, different species require different con- 

 ditions, if natural regeneration is to be successful. More 

 especially the cover of the mother or shelter trees must be 

 more open where a light demanding species is to be regener- 

 ated, than in the case of a shade bearing tender species. The 

 shelter, for instance, which suits the beech, would probably 

 kill young oak seedlings. Again, certain species, such as 

 spruce, produce so much seed, spring up so easily, and would 

 take possession of so much ground, that other species, like 

 silver fir and beech, would have little chance of coming up in 

 sufficient numbers. In the Black Forest, silver fir has fre- 

 quently to be helped against the beech. These objections 

 are undeniable, but they are, after all, not of such importance 

 as might appear at first sight. In the first place, the mother 

 trees can be so selected, that one species is favoured against 

 the others. Secondly, the surplus regeneration of any one 

 species can be removed in the first thinnings. Thirdl}', the 

 species can be arranged in small groups. Fourthly and 

 chiefly, the best procedure is, to regenerate naturally with 

 special reference to one species, and to introduce the others 

 (as far as necessary) artificially. In the Black Forest, for 

 instance, silver fir is favoured in the regeneration, and spruce 

 is, if necessary, afterwards planted in. In this manner the 

 forester can produce the desired proportion of the several 



