•238 



FKI.L1N'(1 AND ("( )XVEnSluX. 



Loppinj,' the branches of a tree is (lan<,'cr()us, aud men capable 

 of doinj^ it are not ahvays availaljle, so that the forester will if 

 possible avoid the practice. lu certain regions, as in France, the 

 Black forest and many Alpine forests, 

 experienced climbers who mount the 

 trees with climbing-irons (tig. l'24a), 

 may be found ready to do the 

 work, on account of the high rate of 

 remuneration. Wherever a coniferous 

 tree standing over a group of young 

 conifers is to be felled, its stem should 

 ahvays be first completely cleared of 

 branches, and the narrow alley it 

 makes ill the young wood will soon 

 become closeil. This is I'spet^ially 

 desirable in coniferous forests, for 

 injured advance-growth is very lial)le 

 to insect attacks. 



Lopping the heavy boughs of broad- 

 leaved trees standing in the midst of 

 young growth may injure the latter, 

 whilst the entire crown might fall 

 l)eyond them, and in any case not 

 injure them so much as the separate boughs. 



Removing top of tree. 

 'T. H. ^[onttatli ) 



[The brandies and top of very tall oaks ami beocli are, however, 

 often lopi)ed in France, in order to prevent tlieir long valuable stems 

 which are much li<;hter without tlieir lofty crowns (fig. 1^4), from 

 cracking in tlieir fall. — Tu.] 



Valuable little stems in pole-woods may 

 [D often be bent back, or tied back by withes to 



allow for the passage of the falling stem. It 

 is, however, an error to be too anxious to pre- 

 vent damage to young growth in a felling, for 

 everyday experience shows that what appears 

 to be serious devastation is no longer notice- 

 able after a few years. Even where a valu- 

 able standard tree standing over large poles 

 has become mature, no hesitation should be shown in felling it. 



Climliing-Irons. 

 (After l»oi)i.e.) 



