4 TBOHNIOAIi PROPERTIES OF WOOD. 



whereas the reverse is usually the case in respect of the 

 root portion of the tree. 

 General. — It is thus evident that owing to the numerous and 

 extremely variable factors which influence the relative develop- 

 ment of the roots, stem and branches, it is impossible to arrive 

 at any constant figures, even for trees in one and the same crop. 

 This is especially true in India, where the same tree has often so 

 wide a horizontal as well as vertical distribution. Nevertheless, 

 it would be interesting to start experimental measurements 

 throughout the Empire in order to obtain average figures for our 

 principal species according to well-defined forest regions. A few 

 figures taken from experiments made in Germany will be instruc- 

 tive. The following were obtained by Pfeil and Theodor Hartig 

 in canopied high forest : — 



In stored coppice, Lauprecht obtained the following percentages 

 for the branch- wood yielded by the stores: — 



Since the bole is usually the most important element of produc- 

 tion in a forest, its shape and other attributes are obviously matters 

 of the first importance. "We shall, therefore, here specially study 

 these attributes. For the stem of a tree to possess its maximum 

 utility, it should be of the largest dimensions attainable, and it 

 should be straight, free from branches, and as cylindrical as pos- 

 sible. 



(a). Dimensions. — The height which a given species can attain 

 depends principally on the suitability of the soil and locality,! and 

 most of all on the depth of the soil and the amount of moisture 

 in it. A sufficient density of the leaf-canopy during the stage of 



