HOP-POLE CULTIVATION. 57 



work freely in the plantation without being obliged to 

 use the knife at all ; it will be found, too, that the 

 trees have attained a proportional growth, and a clean 

 and robust character. 



We are, however, trespassing upon future sections, 

 but it seemed necessary here to draw attention to the 

 necessity of carefully weighing this subject before 

 proceeding to plant. Even where there is a demand 

 for the product of early thinning we prefer, to some 

 extent, ignoring it, rather than sacrificing the future 

 prosperity of the plantation to obtain it. We write this 

 advisedly, as, after years of close observation, we are 

 convinced that the future prosperity of the planting 

 will be best secured by keeping the mind fixed upon 

 producing timber, and setting aside in the meantime 

 all minor considerations. 



Where the demand for small wood is considerable, 

 as, for instance, hop-poles in a hop district, it can be 

 met l?y special cultivation. By planting larch or 

 Scotch pine 2 to 3 feet apart a good crop of poles 

 may be obtained in ten years ; and the whole may be 

 cut at once or in close succession, and then replanted ; 

 and in all probability each successive planting will be 

 more prosperous than the one preceding it- Then, 

 again, it will be necessary to consider the site, whether 

 it is exposed or sheltered. If exposed, some prefer 

 close planting, especially on the side exposed to the 

 prevailing wind, but we venture here, also, to take a 

 different view. More protection will be obtained by 

 the encouragement of branches and foliage than by 

 proximity of stems ; and all know who have had ex- 

 perience that belts of conifers, with wide and well- 



