190 NATURAL REGENERATION 



especially if the area lie exposed to gales or dry winds. Now, 

 suppose that up to no years old a wood has been merely 

 thinned in the ordinary manner, and that there were found 

 210 trees to the acre, it would probably be advisable to cut 

 out 60 of the smallest, leaving 150. If in 3 or 4 years' time 

 the dead leaves have nicely decayed, well and good ; but if 

 the admission of a little more light seems desirable, another 

 30 trees should be cut. Probably all can then go on until a 

 good seed year comes ; then about 65 trees should be cut, 

 leaving 55 on the ground. The biggest trees and those with 

 big crowns should be cut, and clean-grown tall trees, about 

 12 feet quarter girth at breast height, should be left as seed 

 and shelter trees. 



The gradual clearance should usually begin about the 2nd 

 year after the fall of the seed, and should be made about 

 every 3 years ; all the mother trees being removed by the 

 i ith or 1 2th year, if possible. 



If the regeneration be more or less of a failure, it will 

 often be necessary to postpone the gradual clearance, and to 

 wait for another seed year. But the best plan is to resort to 

 artificial means, and either to sow or to plant I or 2 year 

 seedlings. It will be the cheaper method, for otherwise rank 

 grass will make its appearance, and soil preparation will be 

 necessary, and the crop will be uneven, and time will be lost. 



The utmost care is necessary in removing the mother 

 trees. They should not be removed during a frost (unless 

 there is deep snow) for the young crop is then very brittle. 

 Again, they should always be removed by the home staff of 

 workmen ; and, if cut into short lengths, they are more easily 

 handled. 



With trees other than Beech, the various fellings are not 

 so clearly defined. The seed years are more frequent ; and 

 when once the surface soil is in good condition, seeding will 

 probably soon take place, other conditions being fulfilled. 

 Furthermore, the ground is not so likely to deteriorate if the 

 1st year fails ; it will have a chance of seeding the next year 

 or the year after that. But, in the case of Beech it might be 

 fallow for 10 years or more. 



