APPENDIX III (3). 



THINNINGS. 



Whether as the result of artificial or of natural regeneration 

 a time arises sooner or later when thinnings become necessary 

 in every forest crop. In the case of conifers this operation may 

 be delayed for a considerable number of years, whereas in the 

 case of teak thinnings may be necessary when the crop is one 

 or two years old. As we have already seen in the case of natural 

 regeneration every species will require different treatment and the 

 forester carrying out this operation must have a clear under- 

 standing of the habits and growth of the trees with which he is 

 dealing. 



A thinning consists in lessening the crowded condition of 

 the best trees in a canopy so as to favour their development. In 

 the case of most conifers it is essential that thinnings should 

 commence early so that good healthy stems with crowns of suffi- 

 cient vigour to withstand snow should be produced. 



' The first thinnings must be executed without thought of 

 the value of the produce extracted, the sole object being the future 

 of the crop." In dense coniferous reproduction or in line sowings 

 this work may commence with the pruning knife when the plants 

 are about two or three feet high. Later when the crop is six feet 

 or more in height and has covered the ground with a complete 

 canopy the first thinning may be carried out. This is equally 

 important in the case of conifers and sal and a neglect of this 

 necessary work has resulted in the deformation of extensive areas 

 of sapling crops. The most practical way of doing this work is 

 with an intelligent forest guard who is given a stick of a certain 

 length with the order that this stick has to pass between all the 

 trees left standing. Where the stick will not pass between two 



xlvii 



