THE UTILISATION OF LAND UNSUITABLE FOR AGRICULTURE. 19 



biggest trees hardly exceed "pole " size, and the price would be 

 pole price — always much below the price of big trees. The 

 plantation from which the table is compiled would be easy to 

 sell at from about 5d. to 9d. per foot, standing, in our neighbour- 

 hood, and at a reasonable profit, because it is close to the railway 

 and a good market ; but there are many situations even in our 

 neighbourhood, let alone remote districts, where the cheap kinds 

 of timber, like Scotch Fir and Birch and small poles of any kind, 

 would not pay for removal, and where Beech, Sycamore, and 

 Larch would leave but a narrow margin after paying carriage, 

 felling, and all incidental expenses. It is of no use trying to 

 give the precise value of a crop of timber to the producer without 

 knowing everything, as hardly two cases are alike. The number 

 of trees to the acre given in the table is what it would perhaps 

 be difficult to find on any estate in this country. The number 

 given is based upon the numbers said to be produced in well- 

 managed forests in Germany, and upon calculations made by 

 myself as regards the greatest head-space required by forest-trees 

 to produce a trunk of a given size. I believe my estimate is not 

 far from the mark, and may be accepted as a guide ; but it con- 

 templates a careful regulation of the trees and general good 

 management. Of course, where the supply was extensive, con- 

 verting the timber in the wood would save much expense, and 

 the older and bigger the trees the greater would be the value ; 

 but the expense and time would also be greater. Nothing is 

 allowed for thinnings previous to sixty years, as they would 

 hardly pay expenses in these days on such land. I might have 

 given the actual value per acre of the wood from which the table 

 is taken, but the wood had been over-thinned at an early period, 

 and damaged by game and deer, and hence such a valuation 

 would be misleading. I prefer to give what I believe might be 

 accomplished by ordinary good culture and management in the 

 time on land worth 7s. 6d. per acre in our locality, but which 

 would be worth less in less populous centres. 



It will be seen from the table that the Beech is a tree that 

 puts on timber faster than most others, and this is true of it 

 almost everywhere ; and I know of no tree that stands and 

 grows so well in bleak, exposed situations and on poor soils. 

 It is a remarkable tree in these respects, and is only approached 

 by the Spanish Chestnut and Sycamore. In our high-lying dis- 



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