188 THE MANAGEMENT OF 



rapidly than one altogether planted with young- 

 trees. 



When the young shoots from the old stocks have 

 been allowed to grow undisturbed for two years, 

 they should then be carefully looked over, and all 

 small ones removed, leaving the strongest all round 

 the circumference, not closer than six inches one 

 from another : these again should be left for other 

 two years, when a second and final thinning should 

 be made, choosing the strongest and healthiest 

 shoots to remain, and in no case leaving more than 

 six shoots to stand as a permanent crop upon any 

 individual stock, or fewer still if the health and 

 strength of the parent require it. 



I am aware that many foresters are in the habit 

 of not thinning their oak stools at all, until such 

 time as the shoots have attained a large size, when 

 they thin them out and peel the bark from them, 

 supposing that by this system there is a gain from 

 the sale of the young bark produced. Now, as 

 regards this system, I am quite of a contrary 

 opinion ; for, when the shoots are thinned out as I 

 have advised, they very quickly attain a large size, 

 whereas, when they are not thinned out until a late 

 period of their growth, the shoots become stunted, 

 and shortly indicate a want of vigour in their con- 

 stitution ; consequently, at the end of a given 

 number of years, instead of an advantage being 

 gained by letting the shoots grow up until they 



