APPLICATION OF THE METHOD. 81 



hills it is sometimes the one tree, sometimes the 

 other, that ascends highest. Both have a delicate 

 constitution, require to be treated with the same 

 care, and are capable of withstanding the action of 

 cover for a long time, without losing vitality ; there 

 is but little difference in their longevity, and they 

 attain their maximum of utility at almost the same 

 age. The produce obtained from the mixed growth 

 is suited for a larger number of uses than what 

 either tree would furnish by itself: the silver fir 

 yields first rate timber for building and manufac- 

 turing purposes ; the beech yields excellent manufac- 

 during wood and fuel. 



Only, in forests treated by the method of thinnings, 

 where we try to regenerate rather large areas going 

 over them in a regular manner, block by block, care 

 must be taken that the beech does not encroach too 

 much upon the fir ; for during the first few years the 

 beech grows rather rapidly in height, whereas the 

 silver fir does not begin to shoot upwards until the 

 twelfth or fifteenth year. Later on when the two 

 trees go ahead at about the same pace, the advantages 

 of their association begin to appear ; for the side 

 branches of the beech, developing vigorously at all 

 ages, tend to fill up the gaps caused by accidents or 

 by thinnings, and the crop is always more complete 

 than when the silver fir is alone. 



ROTATION. The length of rotation ought to be 

 fixed with reference to the silver fir ; for it is this 

 tree that yields the greatest quantity of planking, 

 and planking requires the largest logs procurable if 

 we wish to avoid wastage. 



G 



