196 THINNING. 



doing such work, yet the mixing system has, in this 

 instance, proved a considerable failure, demonstrating 

 very clearly that a system of general mixing of trees 

 is always attended with less success than that of judi- 

 cious grouping, whenever the management requisite 

 for each is strictly attended to. 



On examination of the plantation previous to thin- 

 ning, the following were about the general proportions 

 and distribution of the trees upon the ground per 

 acre : — 



Hardwoods of sorts, 500 



Larch, 1000 



Spruce, 700 



Scots pines, ....... 800 



3000 



The work of first thinning was performed in Sep- 

 tember 1858, beginning the operations by marking all 

 the live trees to be taken out, and giving instructions 

 to the workmen to cut all decayed ones, which saved 

 the labour of marking. The cutting was performed by 

 eight men and a boy; the foreman in direct charge 

 of the work wrought also as one of the men, being 

 chiefly engaged marking immediately before them, or 

 pruning close behind them. In consequence of the 

 smallness of the trees, and their closeness together, con- 

 siderable difficulty was experienced in using the axes. 

 The haTid-MU (fig. 3, page 145), therefore, was used 

 instead — an instrument which, when properly made, 

 and in the hand of an experienced workman, is much 

 superior to axes for thinning small wood. To prevent 

 any misconception in reference to the hand-bill, I may 

 mention that it is not the instrument purchased from 

 ironmongers under that name, with a sharp edge on 



