AMONG THE OAKS in 



development of the oak is apt to be unsatisfactory 

 and disappointing. 



This is, however a very different matter from 

 the far heavier thinnings made in olden times for 

 the express purpose of growing trees of branching 

 habit to yield crooks for the naval dockyards and 

 for shipbuilding in general. Though the market 

 demand for timber has long since changed, yet the 

 old method of thinning, now excessively heavy 

 for the production of what must prove the most 

 remunerative description of oak, is still adhered 

 to. This system seems easily capable of improve- 

 ment, and it stands in need of immediate change. 



Simultaneously with heavier thinnings, when 

 the main growth in height has been attained, or 

 with partial clearances to stimulate the rapidity of 

 growth in girth, attention will have to be paid to 

 protecting the soil against the deteriorating in- 

 fluences of wind and sun. The strong demand 

 made by the oak for light, as evidenced by the 

 comparative thinness of its crown of foliage, is of 

 course accompanied by inability to shade the soil 

 from the exhausting effects of sunshine and 

 dry winds ; while the now open condition of 

 the canopy of foliage overhead, caused by the 



