THINNING MIXED PLANTATIONS. 183 



market, and if grown on suitable soil and skilfully 

 managed, should reach that size at forty years ; and 

 the plantation should contain 200 to 250 trees per 

 acre, according to their vigour. I would estimate the 

 crop at this age for final cutting at about 600 trees 

 per acre, if thinned early enough. Thirdly, by cutting 

 at an early age the planter may realise some of the 

 money that he expended. At the present day pro- 

 prietors have large quantities of good timber standing 

 and realising nothing, the felling of which would de- 

 stroy the appearance of their estates. I see nothing 

 to keep us from being able to grow timber, so that we 

 could always have some to cut. As to France being 

 able to supply the British demand, I do not see 

 how it can. Except Norway, Sweden, and Eussia, 

 no European State has a surplus supply of timber ; 

 therefore I see no cause for alarm on that score. I 

 am aware we import handsome spars from France 

 and Germany. Why is this ? Simply because they 

 do not thin their woods until each tree is very tall. 

 They grow a great number per acre, while we cut 

 away just what they cultivate. I have now given 

 sufficient reasons for felling at an early age. To come 

 to the final cutting. Estimating the next thinning and 

 final cutting at the same sum as the previous thin- 

 nings, gives a total of £115, 16s. 8d. ; allowing the 

 same expenditure for cutting, &c., and taking thirty- 

 five years as the average age of the final cut, the out- 

 lay will be, viz. : — 



Planting and enclosing, 



Thinning, &o., 



Final out 



