•i9io.] Forestry Congress at Brussels. 



641. 



the Foret de Soignes. This forest, which is a remnant of 

 the ancient Foret Charbonniere, is one of the finest beech 

 forests in the world. It lies to the south of Brussels, and 

 stretches from the gates of the city almost to the field of 

 Waterloo. A particular interest attaches to the forest in 

 that until recently the beech has been regenerated by artificial 

 plantations. The excellence of the growth is accounted for 

 by the mild climatic conditions and the fertile nature of the 

 soil, which is a sandy-clay. 



Until 1886 the forest was worked under a system of clear- 

 cutting with replanting. At the present time it is managed 

 in several series : — 



(a) An artistic series of some 4,500 acres in the neighbour- 

 hood of the city worked on a modification of the Selection 

 System. This is, in fact, a splendid park for the use of the 

 citizens of Brussels. 



(b) A series of 1 ,850 acres worked on the Shelterwood 

 Compartment System, with a rotation of 160 years. 



(c) A series of 1,980 acres on a clear-cutting system. 



(d) Coppice with standards in process of conversion into 

 high forest, 800 acres. 



(e) 690 acres of coniferous wood, in which an attempt is 

 being made to bring in an underwood of broad-leaf species. 



The following table gives some of the official figures with 

 regard to the volumes per acre. They are taken from the 

 accounts of the numerous thinning experiments which are 

 being carried out by the forest officers in this forest : — 



Age. 



No. trees 



Vol. quarter 



Soil. 



Remarks. 



per acre. 



girth per acre 









Cb. ft. 







44 



740 



2,430 





f Unthinned. 

 -J Light thinning. 

 ^Moderate thinning. 

 [ Experiments to determine 



44 



500 



2,250 



j- Sandy loam 



44 



460 



2,335 



67 



175 



3,860 





67 



238 



4,720 



} 



I effect of humus on rate 



67 



203 



4,300 





[ of growth. 



119 



85 



4,725 



Rather poor conditions 



148 



81 



7,010 



Excellent. 





The height of the best trees in the 148-year old crop above 

 was not less than 115 feet. Quite an extensive thinning 

 series has been started during the last four years, to deter- 



