112 rOKEST PLANTIN"G. 



ages grow up together, the conditions for natural thin- 

 ning out are more favorable. Here, nature itself does 

 the princij)al work of timely thinning out, and the 

 elementary forces do— as is generally known — less dam- 

 age in forests Avhere conifers are intermixed with 

 foliaged trees, than in forests of pure stock. And still 

 the helping liand of the forester can do a great deal to 

 produce a quicker development of the trees and to in- 

 crease their strength and growth. 



It is an old rule in forestry to commence thinning ear/y, 

 and repeat it often, but always to do the work moderately. 

 But after the lapse of from GO to 70 years, when the 

 trees have attained their full height, it is expedient to 

 open out the stock itself more freely, in order to give the 

 trees a chance to extend their remaining branches, and 

 thus enable them to accelerate their accretion of wood. 

 The branches of trees in forests under sixty years of age 

 should be allowed to grow pretty close together — so 

 densely as not to show any gaps. Such forests will 

 produce the best timber, as the trees then will develop 

 branches only on the higher part of the trunk, leaving 

 the lower part free, and yet keeping the soil well shaded. 



Absolute rules as to the exact time for the periodical 

 thinnings cannot be given, except that the soil should 

 always be protected from light, sun and wind, and that 

 the vigorous growth of those trees which are intended for 

 future stock, should never be interfered with by theii" 

 companions. Which trees should be selected in thin- 

 ning out a forest, can best be shown in forests with a 

 pure stock of trees, L e., with trees of the same kind 

 and mostly of the same age. Here you find three dif- 

 ferent classes of trees, viz. : 



(1) TJie dominant, which have grown ahead of the 

 others. 



(2) The governed, which, although lifting their crowns 

 in the sunshine, are narrowed in by the other trees. 



