no OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



cation is essentially necessary in growing crops 

 of oaks. As a tree making strong demands for 

 light, however, what would be a moderate thinning 

 for beech would prove insufficient for oak ; hence, 

 in conducting thinning operations in oakwoods, 

 the requirements as to growing - space for the 

 next four or five years should be anticipated and 

 provided for. 



In thus dealing with crops or groups of oak, 

 the somewhat anticipatory thinnings should re- 

 move all stems that are not necessary for the 

 maintenance of the leaf -canopy or crown of 

 foliage of the wood ; because crowding of the 

 individual poles, indefiniteness with regard to 

 what will form the predominating stems through- 

 out the crop, and a long struggle for supremacy 

 over surrounding competitors for the available 

 supplies of light, are even less desirable in oak- 

 woods than in other hardwood crops. When the 

 trees are older, even the formation of a small 

 blank here and there is preferable to inter- 

 ference with the crown of foliage of the best 

 trees, as such blanks often soon close up again. 

 But when thinning is neglected, or is delayed too 

 long, or is carried out insufficiently, the further 



