Scotch Plantations: Ornamental Planting. 113 



till the plantation arrives at about 40 to 45 years of age. At each 

 thiimiug, the trees are left standing about clear of each other. At 

 certain stages of growth, the trees might be thinned out to stand at 

 one-third of their height apart, as, for example, trees of 21 feet 

 might stand 7 feet apart. 



446. " We have generally, for the permanent crop, about 200 to 

 250 trees per acre. After the last course of thinning, the trees are 

 not interfered with again until they arrive at maturity. When the 

 crop comes to the age of 60 to 80 years, it is sold in sections, in the 

 growing state, and the ground is again replanted as soon as it is 

 cleared off and properly prepared. 



447. " Hard- wood plantations are treated as follows : As soon as 

 the nurses are interfering with the hard-wood trees, their thinning 

 begins, and it is gradually carried on till they are all removed, by 

 the time they arrive at thirty years of age, with the exception of 

 such as are left for ornament, to grow to maturity." 



448. An idea of the relative profit of trees of different kinds in 

 Scotland, we give the following list of prices of timber per cubic 

 foot, in 1882: 



Larch Is. to Is. Id. Oak (standing).... 2s. ta 3s. 



Scot's fir Qd. to 9rf. Ash Is. 3d. to Is. Qd. 



Spruce ... 4d. to 6rf. Beech Wd. to Is. 



Silver fir Qd. to lOrf. Elm Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. 



In 1876, fifteen acres of Scotch fir timber, 80 years old, near 

 Perth, Scotland, sold for 132 per acre. A handsome revenue had 

 been previously got from the thinnings. 



CHAPTER XL 



ORNAMENTAL PLANTING. 



449. Although the leading object of this book is to convey utili- 

 tarian ideas upon the subject of tree-planting, and to indicate the 

 methods and opportunities for doing this with most profit and surest 

 success, it should be borne in mind that these objects are not in the 

 least degree inconsistent with a due appreciation of the beauties of 

 woodland scenery, whether presented in the somber shadows of a 

 dense forest, the cheerful shade of a grove, or in the grandeur or 

 grace of an isolated tree. 



8 



