DAMAGE CAUSED BY ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS. 29 



than high forest with its annual falls or crops of equal-aged growth, 

 owing to the more vigorous development of the individual stems 

 and patches, and the irregularity and constantly varying level of 

 the leaf -canopy. 



18. Preventive Measures. 



The means at disposal for obviating damage from snowfall are 

 almost purely of a sylvicultural nature, and consist in the judicious 

 choice of the species forming the crop, in its formation by the 

 method best suited to soil and situation, and in careful tending of 

 the woods. 



In the higher regions, where experience has shown the danger 

 of breakage to be greatest, the cultivation of the brittle Scots Pine 

 should be avoided, a preference being, in general, given to the 

 formation of mixed forests, and in particular to an admixture of 

 broad-leaved species (Beech) wherever possible in coniferous woods, 

 which are those most apt to suffer, for the passage of the snow to 

 the ground is thereby assisted, as well as by the varying nature and 

 level of the canopy in mixed forests. The formation of crops by 

 means of planting at moderate distances has shown itself to be pre- 

 ferable to sowing, or to the planting of seedlings in wisps. But the 

 most important preventive measure undoubtedly lies in the proper 

 tending of the timber-crops. When thinnings are begun early, 

 carefully carried out, especially at first, and frequently repeated, 

 the density of the canopy becomes moderated, thereby rendering 

 the passage of snow to the ground easier on the one hand, and on 

 the other favouring a more equally balanced branch-development, 

 and a speedier and sturdier growth of the dominating poles. But 

 such thinnings should be very carefully conducted in crops that 

 have grown up in dense canopy, in which the stems have been 

 rapidly drawn up, and have consequently acquired little power of 

 resisting pressure. 1 



Under exceptional circumstances, as in parks, ornamental 

 plantations, small thickets of valuable species, and the youngest 

 class of standards in copse, the snow can be got rid of by means 

 of shaking, or by knocking against the stem ; but on any very 

 extensive scale such a measure can, of course, find no practical 

 application. 



1 Begin early ; conduct moderately ; repeat frequently. Such is the golden rule for 

 thinning. Light-demanding species of course require more assistance in their natural 

 struggle than shade-bearing trees. Trans. 



