THE QUALITY OF CONIFEROUS TIMBER. 



115 



appointment will be the result. If the trees are kept so close 

 together in youth as to enable the boles to clean themselves, 

 then, of course, shelter is sacrificed at a very early age, and in 

 middle -age the wind will blow through amongst the bare stems 

 with scarcely impeded force. In any case, if the situation is at 

 all exposed, the trees in a narrow belt are of insignificant 

 dimensions, being especially deficient in height. Even in a large 

 wood one can see that a considerable breadth on the windward 

 side does not contain trees of such large dimensions as are to be 

 found further in. This part is, in fact, a shelter-belt for the rest 

 of the wood, and should be treated accordingly. Although it 

 may not yield a full return in timber, it is fulfilhng a most im- 

 portant ofiice in protecting the rest of the wood from biting 

 winds and violent gales. No attempt should be made to im- 

 prove the timber by pruning the outer row of trees. Their 

 coarse gnarled branches and short rugged stems best fit them 

 for acting the part of advance guards and of bearing the first 

 brunt of the storm. 



In the foregoing remarks I have endeavoured rather to stir up 

 interest in the subject of this paper than to treat it exhaustively. 

 In our present state of knowledge, indeed, this would have been 

 impossible, for there is still much to learn regarding the con- 

 ditions of growth that affect the quality of timber. But what 

 we do know we should at least apply in practice ; and, in view of 

 the somewhat unfavourable reputation attaching to home-grown 

 coniferous timber, it would appear to be for our interests to 

 embrace every opportunity that holds out the prospect of 

 improvement in quality. 



THE TIMBER OF EXOTIC CONIFERS: USES AND 

 COMPARATIVE VALUE. 



By Mr. D. F. Mackenzie. 



This subject embraces such a wide field for discussion that to 

 enter particularly into every detail would involve an amount of 

 description which to most people would seem uninteresting and 



I 2 



