44 FORESTRY IN GERMANY. 



FOREST PLANTING AND CULTURE. 



It is a principle of Prussian forest administration to obtain as high a net 

 profit as possible from the utilization of forestal products, or, in other words, 

 to obtain the largest possible quantity of most valuable wood products within 

 the shortest possible time. 



By competition of substitutes for firewood, the production of forests has 

 declined in value, and threatens to decline still more. Much attention is 

 bestowed upon growing wood for timber and lumber, especially in the exten- 

 sive beech forests of the districts. As regards the 



SELECTION OF WOOD SPECIES, 



much attention is paid to intermingling leaf with needle trees, experience 

 having taught that this contributes much to the diminution of damage by 

 caterpillars; conduces greatly to the growth of needle or cpniferous wood, 

 and increases the financial profit. 



Among leaf or deciduous wood it is especially the oak, the plantation of 

 which among coniferous trees in many cases- is highly advisable and profitable. 



As a rule the administration aims at growing oaks either in beech forests, 

 or, as the case may be, in fir forests, by planting them in single groups or 

 clusters in deeply dug fresh ground. To this end places are chosen which 

 allow a reasonable hope that at least a small number, say 20 to 40 oaks per 

 hectare for timber use, may be grown successfully. 



The culture of oak for bark wood is restricted to grounds unfit for the 

 growth of timber oak. In the selection of the 



WORKING METHOD, 



the "high-clearing system" is preferred in every place where rough and steep 

 ground does not require a regular "plantner" system (cultivating all ages of 

 trees promiscuously), while in case of stocking with leaf wood, the "low- 

 clearing" system is resorted to. 



The usual rotation or renewal of stock is for the different species of trees, 

 in case of high-clearing system, as follows : 



Years. 



For beech 90-120 



For pines and firs 60-120 



For oak 140-160 



Alder and birch _^__ 4.0—60 



The time of rotation in case of low-clearing system varies much according 

 to the condition of the ground where trees are grown and of the market. 

 One year's rotation, in case of willow for cutting rods used in making baskets, 

 is quite extensively adhered to. But in order to give such stocks chance for 

 recovery, it is customary to let them attain, at certain intervals, a three or 

 four years' age. 



