Planting 25 



The distance between the plants is important. Close planting 

 is necessary for the production of "clean" timber, and to ensure that 

 the ground is shaded by a canopy of sufficient density as soon as 

 possible (see p. 33). The exact distance will be governed by 

 the fertility of the soil, the size of the plants, the shade-bearing 

 capacity of the species chosen, the method of planting, etc. To 

 give minute details for the planting of each species would occupy too 

 much space. A general rule, which will apply to every case without 

 entailing much error, will be to place the plants three feet apart — 

 that is, at the rate of 4,840 per acre. 



Pit planting is never done at a distance less than three feet from 

 plant to plant — that is, at the rate of 4,840 to the acre. In the case 

 of natural regeneration (see p. 27), however, as many as 50,000 to 

 100,000 seedlings may be found on an acre; these, after a 

 comparatively short space of time, are reduced to a limited number, 

 the strongest plants taking the lead and suppressing those which 

 are physically unfit. 



The expense of the planting is an important consideration. On 

 the one hand, close planting entails a greater initial expense ; but 

 this extra outlay is more than repaid by the greatly increased value 

 of the timber produced. On the other hand, placing the plants too 

 far apart produces coarse, unclean timber, of comparatively small 

 commercial value ; and it is this which has led to the low price 

 of certain English timbers, especially that from conifers. 



In the present state of British forestry, close planting, even 

 though additional expense be incurred, cannot be too strongly insisted 

 upon. The matter is, of course, entirely different where ornamental 

 effect only is the end in view. 



When a steep gradient has to be planted, the horizontal distance 

 from plant to plant should be taken. 



To find the number of plants required to plant an acre of 

 ground, multiply the number of acres by 4,840 ; divide by the 

 distance between the plants (in yards), multiplied by itself Thus, 

 to plant two acres of ground with plants arranged in squares at three 

 feet or one yard apart, 9,680 plants will be required. By the same 

 rule it will be found that if the plants are arranged at four feet 



