CLEANING YOUNG PLANTATIONS 143 



as is done in the case of farm crops ; nor indeed would it be 

 advisable, at any rate beyond the first year, for it is impossible 

 to avoid injuring the young roots. 



All that can be done is to clean or " cut out " the young 

 plantations until the young trees are sufficiently tall, so that 

 there is no danger of their being choked. It should be done 

 annually until the young trees are about 4 feet in height. 



Where very small trees are planted this cutting out will 

 probably be necessary twice a year until the trees are about 

 2 feet 6 inches in height; after which, once a year will 

 suffice. 



Each cutting out will cost from 43. to 6s. an acre. If the 

 trees are very small and close together the larger amount 

 will have to be paid, as cutting is then more difficult. This 

 cutting out may be done with "fag hooks" or short 

 " grubbing " scythes. A man will cut out about half an acre 

 a day. 



The following will represent the expense incurred in 

 cleaning young plantations and filling up "blanks" caused 

 by the death of some of the trees, and " firming " or 

 "treading in" plants that have been swayed by the wind. 



Case I. Trees, 4 years old, 2700 per acre : 



Cutting out once a year for first 3 years, at 



45. 6d. per acre ...... 13 6 



Replacing dead trees 1 ..... o 15 o 



Treading in trees swayed by the wind . . o i 6 



Total . . i 10 o 



Case II. Trees, 2 year seedlings, 7000 per acre : 



Cutting out, first year twice, at 6s. . . . ^0120 

 second year twice, at 6s. . . o 12 o 



third, fourth, fifth year once, at 55. 015 o 



Total . . ;i 19 o 



Note. Replacing dead trees will not usually be necessary, as such a 

 large number have been planted originally ; also, the trees being very 

 small will probably not require any " treading in." 



1 This item will often be very much more. 



