.58 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



developed branches, are a greater protection than bare 

 stems, however closely they may be packed. 



Take for an example a belt of Austrian pines (Pinus 

 Austriaca), planted, say, 5 or 6 feet apart, what better 

 protection can there be ? Again, take a belt of Scotch 

 pine or larch, planted 2 \ feet apart or even 3 feet, and 

 what security do they afford after the lapse of a few 

 years ? Shelter, as before stated, is so important that 

 too much care and foresight cannot be exercised. In 

 pleasure grounds, too, how many schemes are frus- 

 trated by the ignorance displayed in the early stages ? 

 Go where we will we see trees that should have been 

 beautiful, and would have been, but for the process of 

 crushing which they have had to undergo, and to the 

 buffeting they have received from want of shelter. 

 These disappointments may be overcome by judicious 

 treatment, and especially in the wise choice of dis- 

 tance. Lateral development is all-important when 

 planting for ornament, and this is best secured by 

 protection ; but if the protection afforded is too close 

 or too distant the result will be disappointment. In 

 the first case the laterals will be lost, in the second, 

 the tree will be unshapely. 



With regard to hard woods, distance is also of great 

 importance, and must be determined by the class of 

 timber required. If long straight timber is desired, 

 there must be close proximity in the early stages, and 

 thinning must be judiciously carried out for many 

 years. This discourages lateral growth ; but, at the 

 same time, encourages, under proper management, a 

 sufficiency of foliage. If, however, girth is required 

 with a proportionate height, a greater distance must 



