36 NO TES ON FORES TR Y. 



have lagged a little behind in the struggle, will 

 almost immediately recover lost ground after the 

 free admission of light. 



But all trees are not naturally gregarious. 

 Many valuable timbers, although sometimes found 

 struggling with other trees in close forests, will 

 never under such conditions acquire those noble 

 dimensions attained by such trees growing singly. 

 Such trees are light-loving, and, if grown in dense 

 plantations, will draw each other up to an extent 

 that renders them all spindly and unhealthy ; and 

 a sharp thinning out, if delayed too long, instead 

 of remedying the evil, will sometimes result in 

 their all going down before a strong wind. They 

 have grown beyond their strength, and are unable 

 to withstand the violence of the storm. Such trees 

 require not only an abundance of light, but a 

 broad-spreading crown, with ample foliage for 

 absorption of atmospheric food. Nevertheless, as 

 long timber is usually a desideratum, it is advan- 

 tageous to grow such trees in plantations; but 

 while planting them closely enough to encourage 

 their drawing each other up, thus fostering a 

 straight upward growth, we should never leave 

 them so close that they crowd each other. 

 Thinning out should be resorted to directly their 

 branches come in contact with each other, and 

 when the forest has attained the required height, 



