NATURAL REGENERATION. 85 



3J to 5 ft. apart, would prove profitable in establishing a better 

 and thicker crop of seedlings. The removal of the parent 

 standard trees takes place gradually, as the young crop outgrows 

 danger from frost and scorching, and begins to suffer from the 

 heavy overshadowing. 



Natural Regeneration of Ash, Maple, and Sycamore is easy, 

 as they produce seed abundantly every year or two. On wood- 

 land soil already carrying a mature crop natural regeneration 

 of Ash, Sycamore, etc., often springs up freely without any 

 special soil-preparation ; and all the attention that the seedlings 

 need for the first few years is protection against rabbits. The 

 English Elm reproduces itself freely on suitable soil by throwing 

 up root-suckers, which also require protection against ground 

 game, while the Scots or Wych Elm produces good seed freely. 



Birch regenerates itself very freely, and where seed-producing 

 trees are to windward, self-sown crops can easily be obtained 

 by merely enclosing the land and keeping off cattle, sheep, and 

 ground game. 



Natural Regeneration of Scots Pine is usually easy unless 

 there be a strong growth of weeds ; but the parent trees have 

 to be soon removed to give the seedlings light. Where heather 

 covers the ground, the seedlings come up in larger numbers and 

 more regularly than where bracken, grass, etc., cover the soil. 

 In Scotland, regeneration-falls are usually made at intervals of 

 2 to 3 years, by leaving only about 20 to 30 seed-bearing trees 

 standing per acre. Where there is a very strong growth of 

 heather, regeneration can be greatly assisted by grazing sheep 

 to keep down the weeds ; but as soon as the seed is ready to 

 fall with the dry east winds in spring, the tract must be 

 protected against cattle, sheep, and deer. 



