93 



of the head of the tree, the snags almost 

 invariably die, and rot into the stem of the 

 tree. 



If trees are left so close in plantations as 

 to prevent the growth of all side boughs, 

 or to cause the gradual death of those that 

 are developed (which fills the timber with 

 long dead knots), owing to the small head, 

 the deposit and growth in diameter of the 

 stem, and also the whole growth of the 

 root, will be very slow and slight. Weak 

 poles will be reared, which, when the 

 plantation is thinned, will be liable to be 

 blown down, or to break out all over the 

 stem from the admission of light. This 

 causes a severe check to the growth of the 

 head, and such trees are liable to become 

 stag-headed. Exposure is no excuse for 

 not thinning plantations. There is no 

 reason, because the heads of trees are 

 exposed to wind, that their roots should be 

 robbed by their neighbours, and starved 

 by their own want of head. 



