148 Practical Forestry 



first thinning took place. Two years afterwards, or in eight 

 years from time of planting, thinning was first engaged in, 

 the taller trees at that time averaging nearly 11 ft. in height, 

 but many of the suppressed and weakly were little more 

 than half that size. Another thinning took place during 

 the twelfth year, and in 1911 the trees average 40 ft. in 

 height and were standing at a distance of 9 ft. apart. The 

 plantation referred to is on the Earl of Derby's property of 

 Hoi wood, in Kent. 



2. To what extent should thinning be engaged in ? 

 In following up the latter case, the tallest and healthiest 

 trees were reserved ; all distorted, sickly, and stunted 

 specimens being removed ; but in the case of two or more 

 proportionately small trees growing in close proximity, the 

 most promising was left, and the others cut away, thus 

 avoiding gaps in the plantation. At the first thinning it 

 will be found quite impossible to leave the trees anything 

 like regular over the ground, although this should be studied 

 as much as possible, and bare spaces are to be carefully 

 guarded against. With the vigorous growth of the trees, 

 and the interlacing of branches previous to the first thinning, 

 no great openings will require to be made, and nothing 

 more than will be canopied over during the next two 

 years. 



3. What time should elapse between each thinning ? 

 This can only be correctly decided after a careful inspection 



of the particular wood. Generally speaking, after the first 

 thinning, when the trees were eight years old, the lower 

 branches gradually began to give way, and as the trees 

 increased in height, this became more and more apparent, 

 and formed a good guide as to the time which should elapse 

 before the second thinning might profitably be engaged in. 

 The intervals between the various thinnings should for the 

 first thirty years in the case of Larch and, indeed, most 

 other trees be comparatively short, but become longer 

 with advance of age ; but heavy thinnings must be care- 

 fully avoided, especially if the best class of coniferous timber 

 is to be produced. 



A well-managed Larch plantation of twenty years' 



