28 KERRY WOODS. 



that the rate of growth as yet shows little or no signs of falling 

 off, and it would not be unreasonable to predict a height of 63 feet 

 at 50 years of age. 



It must be noted that 28 per cent, of the dominant trees and 31 

 per cent, of the minor trees on this group had either double tops 

 or had received some injury to their leading shoot. The cause 

 of this injury was not apparent, since the group was well sheltered 

 from wind. 



Plate II. illustrates the appearance of the trees in this group. 



Unfortunately there were no other groups old enough to be 

 worth measuring, but this species is growing wonderfully well 

 everywhere under favourable conditions. 



2. Douglas Fir with Larch. 



Douglas fir has been planted extensively in the sheltered valleys 

 on the north side of Kerry Hill, generally in mixture with larch. 

 Its growth is very rapid and at 24 years the best larch are already 

 in danger of suppression. In situations where the larch has 

 attained a height of 40 feet at 22 years of age, the Douglas fir 

 is about 5 feet taller and rapidly increasing its lead. 



Douglas fir could be safely planted on sheltered aspects up to 

 1,250 feet elevation, and on favoured spots even up to 1,300 feet, 

 but its use is sharply restricted. On wet soils, even at the bottom 

 of valleys, it shows a tendency to be thrown by wind even before 

 its fragile leader has been broken. The height-growth curve given 

 in the diagram, p. 30, was taken from a blown tree on wet soil, 

 and is hardly a fair criterion of the rate of growth. 



3. Douglas Fir 'with Abies Grandis and Larch. 



A considerable area in Llwyn-y-rhwd wood has been planted with 

 a mixture of these species. The locality is very well sheltered at 

 900 feet elevation and the soil is deep though inclined to be wet. 

 Abies grandis has shown remarkable growth and at 24 years of age 

 averages 60 feet in height. A tree, which had been broken off, 

 had the following dimensions: v=io'5 cubic feet quarter girth 

 in first 30 feet of bole; h = 59 feet 3 inches; d=io'8 inches. 



The Douglas fir average 50 feet to 55 feet high, while the larch 

 are completely overshadowed. 



4. Larch, Scotch Pine, and Spruce. 



Very large areas have been planted with these three species 

 in about equal proportions or with a larger proportion of larch. 

 The result is not satisfactory. On the lower* ground larch 

 suppresses the other two species, while on the upper the spruce is 

 the most vigorous tree and develops large side branches which are 

 not killed off by the less vigorous Scotch pine and larch. The poor 

 quality of the resulting spruce timber is shown in Fig". B, 

 Plate III. 



