CHAPTER XL 



THE CULTIVATION" OF THE OAK, AND THE DISEASES 

 AND INJURIES TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT. 



THE oak has been cultivated in all kinds of ways, 

 but by far the best timber is produced in what is called 

 " high forest " that is, the young trees all start at the 

 same age and planted much closer together than they 

 will be later on, their number being lessened period 

 after period by successive removals until there is left a 

 forest of large trees at equal distances. As it takes 

 from 140 to 200 years to bring such a crop of timber to 

 maturity, we may easily understand that such are rarely 

 met with except as State forests, and the governments 

 of various countries keep them going at various ages : 

 one set of plantations will be ten, another twenty, a 

 third thirty years old, for instance, when a given set is 

 ready to be finally cut over for heavy timber. 



There are many difficulties, however, in cultivating 

 pure oak woods, and the custom of mixing other trees 

 is a common one, for the young oaks need much light ; 

 and yet, if each plant has the space given it necessary to 

 allow of this light, it grows into a short and spreading 

 tree instead of rising up into a tall, straight one. The 



