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Chap, vi.] Advantages of Mixed Woods 129 



its productive capacity. By removing or diminishing the 

 number of individuals of other species during the ordinary 

 operations of thinning and tending, or, if necessary, even in 

 special revisions for this purpose, the probable immediate 

 future requirements of the timber marts within reach can be 

 more economically, conveniently, and speedily arranged for 

 than when one has to deal with pure forests only. 



As an example of this the safety-match industry throughout 

 Norway, Sweden, and Germany, may be instanced. The 

 woods best suited for the requirements of this industry are 

 Willows, Aspen, and Poplars; and it very frequently occurs 

 that the match-factories have to be removed from one district 

 to another solely on account of the supplies of suitable timber 

 falling off. The heavy expenses thus involved mean that if 

 steps were taken to provide better supplies of these softwoods, 

 the factory proprietors could well afford to pay higher rates to 

 secure them. The full advantage of such favourable markets 

 can only be derived when patches of moist soil have been 

 utilized for the growth of these softwoods in mixed deciduous 



6. Experience has shorvn that Mixed Woods are much less 

 exposed than Pure Forests to dangers from external causes, 

 whether of organic or inorganic origin. Shallow-rooting species, 

 like the Spruce in particular, when mixed with deeper-rooting 

 kinds of trees, like Pine, Larch, and Silver Fir, are much less 

 exposed to be damaged or thrown by storms than when grown 

 in pure crops ; whilst conifers of all kinds suffer less damage 

 from wind, fire, snow, ice, insects, or fungoid diseases, when 

 grown in admixture with broad-leaved trees than if forming 

 pure woods, or even mixed woods consisting of conifers only. 



If associated along with broad-leaved trees, conifers usually 

 attain a better development than under any other circum- 

 stances. This alone would partly account for the decreased 



time, a much better check is kept on any tendency to increase 



