THINNING PLANTATIONS. 



4. Which trees should be removed need cause little or no 

 anxiety, as the dead, dying, diseased, and badly-formed 

 will naturally receive first attention 



In thinning the following short rules should he observed : 



1. Thin not at all until the undergrowing vegetation has 

 hsen completely killed out by the overhead foliage, the 

 golden rule of sylviculture being to keep the sunshine off 

 the ground until near the end of the trees' career. 



2. Thinning should be performed in such a manner as not 

 to reduce the value of the crop, but so as to tend to the pro- 

 duction of the greatest quantity of the most valuable timber 

 in the shortest possible space of time. 



3. By thinning allow of sufficient light and air to prevent 

 the trees becoming drawn up and lanky, but avoid too much 

 space, which induces the growth of side branches and 

 detracts from the value of the timber. 



4. Keep up the number of trees to the highest possible 

 pitch until they are tall, straight, and clean, and thin 

 gradually. 



5. The danger of suddenly exposing the trees to currents 

 of cold air to which they have hitherto been unaccustomed 

 must be carefully guarded against, and it is a serious 

 mistake to thin in an abrupt or unequal manner. 



6. In thinning remove all dead and dying trees first, then 

 the distorted and stunted, the best grown and healthiest 

 being preserved for the permanent crop. 



7. Hardwooded trees require proportionately more space 

 for development than conifers, and the annual rings in the 

 timber of the latter should be narrow in proportion to those 

 of the former, good quality of hardwooded timber being 

 indicated by broad annual rings, but with coniferous wood 

 the reverse is the case. 



8. Thinning should be commenced at the central or most 

 sheltered point of a plantation, or section of same, so that 

 the outer intact boundary may continue to form a barrier to 

 cold winds, which might prove injurious to trees that had 

 hitherto stood in close order. 



9. In economic forestry timber trees should be cut down 

 when they have arrived at maturity or ceased to grow. With 



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