CLEANINGS. 467 



tain a complete covering over the soil and continue to support 

 their neighbours, without hindering the expansion of their crowns. 

 If their support is not required and they are large enough to sell 

 well, they should be cut by the base. 



(c) Stunted bushy growth tn the midst of abundant seedlings of 

 the required species. By lightly pruning this stunted growth, the 

 seedlings should he encouraged to shoot away rapidly ahead and, 

 by expanding their crowns, to close over it. It may then be re- 

 moved altogether, if its sale at least covers the expense of ex- 

 traction. 



(d) Seedlings in ivhich a thick brush of shoots has taken the place 

 of the leader. If there are no better seedlings near by fit to form 

 a permanent part of the crop, the brush should be cut off just 

 above a strong bud. 



(e) Forked plants. Although forking never becomes permanent 

 except in species possessing a distinct verticillate or opposite 

 branching, still it always results, to a certain degree, in arrested 

 growth. Hence forked stems should be weeded out ; but when 

 there are no better ones to take their place, there is no alternative 

 but to keep them, the forking being got lid of by cutting away or 

 breaking off all the branches of the fork except the strongest. 

 Saplings of broad-leaved fast-growing species may, however, be 

 cut back. 



(/) Plants possessing constitutional defects These defects are 

 twisted fibre, a squat habit, and umbrella-shaped crown, &c. As 

 far as these defects can be recognised at so early an age and pro- 

 vided no large gap is produced or dangerous atmospheric influences 

 admitted, the individuals presenting them should be weeded out. 



GENERAL. From the preceding remarks it will be observed that 

 cleanings may be begun, in a certain limited sense, even in a crop 

 that is not yet established, especially if it is composed wholly or 

 very largely of mixed spontaneous growth. Usually, however, 

 the first cleaning does not become necessary until after the crop 

 is quite established and has entered the phase of rapid upward 

 development. 



In a pure crop the operation begins late, need not be repeated 

 frequently, and is very simple, being chiefly restricted to the re- 

 moval of sickly, inferior-grown or badly damaged individuals, 

 which overtop or press in laterally their healthy, well-shaped and 

 sound neighbours. 



In a mixed crop the work is very much harder, is costly, re- 

 quires constant close attention, and cannot be repeated too fre- 



