134 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 
tion of business principles in their management 
would soon result in still better returns from 
these woodlands. Hardy though the beech be, 
and endowed as it is with a better capacity than 
any other broad-leaved tree for protecting the 
soil against the wasting effects of sun and wind 
by reason of its dense crown of foliage, this 
conservation of the productiveness of the land 
can only be adequately secured and utilised to 
its fullest degree if the beechwoods are kept 
considerably thicker than is usually the case in 
Britain. With regard to no kind of timber has it 
here been customary to maintain such density of 
crop and such careful utilisation and protection 
of the soil as obtain in Continental forests; yet, 
if there be any difference as to climate for the 
regulation of a matter so important in its rela- 
tion to the yield in timber, the advantage must 
lie with us by reason of the greater relative 
humidity of our insular climate. This favours 
the density of the woods by enabling the trees 
to bear a somewhat greater amount of shade, 
just as a greater wealth of foliage is to be found 
on cool fresh slopes than on hot dry exposures. 
Certain indications were given towards the end 
