428 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— K*. 



pruned material with the object of finding out what happens after pruning — 

 how long healing takes and what is the nature of the occluded wound. 



The assessment of the improved quality, and therefore greater value, of 

 timber as a result of pruning cannot very well be carried out on actual 

 pruned material, since trees pruned under suitable conditions and suffi- 

 ciently long ago to affect the timber have not been found to be available. 

 The paper describes the method of grading the sawn timber from ordinary 

 unpruned logs, and then, by carrying out a hypothetical pruning in retro- 

 spect, comparing the present value of the timber with the value it would 

 have had if a given pruning had been carried out. 



Saturday, September 12. 



Excursion to Lake District (Belle Isle Estate, etc.). 



Sunday, September 13. 



Excursion to Thirlmere. 



Monday, September 14. 



Prof. J. H. Priestley and Miss L. I. Scott. — A comparison of ring-porous 

 and diffuse-porous hardwoods (io.o). 



Recent work has emphasised the significance of the differences between 

 these two types of hardwood tree. These differences are analysed ; they 

 are shown in the manner of extension growth and radial growth, and in 

 differentiation and structure of the wood. They may also have significance 

 in connection with the function of the wood. 



Mr. Ray Bourne. — The beechwood associations of southern England (10.30). 



The beech is the principal climax dominant of the hilly country through- 

 out southern England irrespective of geological formation and soil. The 

 rate of growth and dimensions attained vary with the climate and the soil. 

 The associated species in the tree and ground layers are determined with one 

 or two exceptions by soil rather than by climate. Three principal associa- 

 tions can be recognised : 



(1) The beech-oak-birch association on the acid sands and gravels. 



(2) The beech-oak-ash association on the neutral loams and clays. 



(3) The beech-ash-yew association on the calcareous chalk and lime stone 



brash soils. 



Each association is divisible into types of distinct physiognomy and pro- 

 ductivity. The recognition of the types which occur on an estate is an 

 essential preliminary to the successful solution of the problems of silviculture 

 and management. 



Mr. H. A. Hyde. — The position of the beech in South Wales (1 1 o). 



The present investigation is an attempt to determine the status of beech 

 (Fagus sylvaticd) in certain woods in Glamorganshire, South Wales. The 

 woods concerned are situated to the north of Cardiff on hills (100—900 ft. alt.) 

 running W.S.W.-E.N.E. for a distance of approximately seven miles at an 



