THE NEW FORESTRY. 53 



growths " epicormic branches," and prune them off, believing 

 them to be one cause of old oaks becoming stag-headed 

 prematurely. 



The past system of thinning oak woods until the trees left 

 were too few, too far apart, and consequently exposed at a 

 period when they were least able to bear exposure, has, no 

 doubt, led to premature decay in the trees left in many woods. 

 Trees now going, off fast at their tops, and becoming hollow 

 in their trunks, might still have been in good health and adding 

 to their size and value if thinning had been arrested as soon 

 as it was seen that it was going to open the wood out too 

 much Clear cutting in sections should then have been begun, 

 followed by re-planting, so as to keep the area fully stocked. 



