96 PLANTING 



from Beech and Hornbeam is especially dense and valuable, 

 and the condition of the soil is much improved by these 

 species. Spanish Chestnut trees also produce very beneficial 

 effects ; their canopy is, however, somewhat deficient towards 

 the end of a rotation. 



(B) AS REGARDS THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH TREES 

 MAY BEST BE GROWN. 



(1) The Age and Distance apart at which Trees 

 should be Planted. 



These two considerations are largely interdependent. 

 For, cceteris paribus, the larger the trees, the greater 

 the distance apart at which they may be planted, and 

 vice versa. As a rule, trees should never be more than 4 

 years old when planted out, though occasionally older trees 

 are planted out as standards over coppice. However, the 

 older the trees, the greater is their expense, and the longer 

 they take, in nearly all cases, to become established. 



It is no uncommon occurrence for a plantation made with 

 2-year-old trees, planted close together, to be as far advanced 

 in 10 years' time as a plantation made with 4-year-old plants 

 planted at 4 feet or 4 feet 6 inches apart. For the young 

 trees become more quickly established, and there is not the 

 same energy of growth dissipated in the production of side 

 branches. 



Owing to the great saving in expense, young I or 2 

 year seedling trees should always be planted where possible. 



This should always be possible on properly managed 

 forest land from which a crop of timber has just been cleared ; 

 for it should be perfectly clean. It will also be possible, 

 almost invariably, on poor heather land ; but on maiden land 

 where there is a covering of grass or other rank growth, it 

 will not usually be advisable or possible, unless, by ploughing 

 the land, it will remain fairly clean at any rate throughout 

 the first summer. Wherever possible, a cleaning crop, such 

 as potatoes, should be taken from such maiden land as is 



