32 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



and yet keep alive growth in diameter. If the 

 trees grow up as a crop of lofty poles, they will 

 probably be blown down by a gale ; and even 

 if they escape that fate, they will never, to what- 

 ever extent they may be thinned, attain a size 

 and shape that will attract an English timber 

 merchant. 



Professor Schwappach, in an address read 

 before the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society 

 on August 3rd, 1896, said : " A timber merchant 

 looks for trees as long, straight, and cylindrical 

 as possible, with the minimum number of knots." 

 This statement may be quite accurate in Ger- 

 many, but it is not an adequate account of an 

 English timber merchant's requirements. His 

 ideal is a tree from which he can cut the largest 

 number of sound planks with a minimum waste. 

 Length is highly desirable, but freedom from 

 knots and a good diameter are essential if the 

 wood is to bring a good price. 



A proper density of the crop is the only 

 practical method of making the trees so grow 

 that the plantation may realise the best financial 

 result. Too little density encourages side boughs 

 and knots and a shortened stem. An excessive 

 degree of density produces an unhealthy and 

 valueless crop. 



