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Profitable Forestry
A guide to planting, maintaining and profiting from forestry plantations in Britain.
Some species are illustrated and photographed.
Forestry Commission schemes applying in 1956 are mentioned.
Some species are illustrated and photographed.
Forestry Commission schemes applying in 1956 are mentioned.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1956
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March 2, 2017
As much as the advice on responsible and profitable forestry, I found the social conditions described interesting.
We're told that during the Second World War timber was stripped wholesale, as there were no imports. I've read elsewhere that Canadian lumberjacks came over to work in Britain for good pay because British men had been obliged to go to fight. Now in the 1950s, the demand for timber to rebuild had caused the loss of much forest cover so an order had been issued restricting the amount of timber which could be felled, with quotas for various parts of the nation. Many plantations remaining were second or third rate larch, and the author himself came home from the war to find his family's land and forests neglected and decaying due to lack of a workforce.
Hence this book full of concise and valuable experience, such as determining which tree is best for timber, which kind of soil you have, and which timber tree will suit your soil or landscape. Even if a soil is thin and poor, some trees will draw minerals directly from the limestone substrate. So it is worth checking Ph and depth of soil.
The author strongly advises planting a mix of deciduous and conifer, which I'm pleased to see. The deciduous trees, even birches, improve the soil with leaf litter and conifers can provide a wind and sun screen for young broadleaf trees. Also, if it happens that you planted the wrong type, or a disease of larch or a plague of grey squirrels comes through, at least you won't lose the whole crop.
Thinning and trimming are described, with plenty of chances to profit from trees after the first ten years, such as firewood and turning wood. That's even if you don't cut some spruces as Christmas trees. Sycamore with ripple grain which I've been lucky enough to see is described and a photo shown; this tree was worth as much as all the rest of a several acre crop. The author explains the kind of trees to remove, to let leader trees do well; we see photos and drawings to show the good types and poor ones. Locally grown seed and from excellent specimen trees is recommended.
Advice is also given on marketing the timber crop. Few sawmills want standing timber but all will be keen to give a good price if it is felled, cleaned and piled by the road.
And we get tips on how to produce a good shooting covert, because pheasants is another way to make money from a growing wood; advice on blending a forest with the landscape, such as not having totally straight edges; and planting flowering natives around the edges to soften the line. I'm all in favour of the last which increases the biodiversity present manyfold. Leaving a few tall trees is not recommended after a clear felling, because the tall ones prevent seedlings from growing and from growing straight.
The advice on grants available is now dated of course but the main point is that the author wanted to promote profitable forestry which added to the income of an estate and provided employment and quality timber.
We're told that during the Second World War timber was stripped wholesale, as there were no imports. I've read elsewhere that Canadian lumberjacks came over to work in Britain for good pay because British men had been obliged to go to fight. Now in the 1950s, the demand for timber to rebuild had caused the loss of much forest cover so an order had been issued restricting the amount of timber which could be felled, with quotas for various parts of the nation. Many plantations remaining were second or third rate larch, and the author himself came home from the war to find his family's land and forests neglected and decaying due to lack of a workforce.
Hence this book full of concise and valuable experience, such as determining which tree is best for timber, which kind of soil you have, and which timber tree will suit your soil or landscape. Even if a soil is thin and poor, some trees will draw minerals directly from the limestone substrate. So it is worth checking Ph and depth of soil.
The author strongly advises planting a mix of deciduous and conifer, which I'm pleased to see. The deciduous trees, even birches, improve the soil with leaf litter and conifers can provide a wind and sun screen for young broadleaf trees. Also, if it happens that you planted the wrong type, or a disease of larch or a plague of grey squirrels comes through, at least you won't lose the whole crop.
Thinning and trimming are described, with plenty of chances to profit from trees after the first ten years, such as firewood and turning wood. That's even if you don't cut some spruces as Christmas trees. Sycamore with ripple grain which I've been lucky enough to see is described and a photo shown; this tree was worth as much as all the rest of a several acre crop. The author explains the kind of trees to remove, to let leader trees do well; we see photos and drawings to show the good types and poor ones. Locally grown seed and from excellent specimen trees is recommended.
Advice is also given on marketing the timber crop. Few sawmills want standing timber but all will be keen to give a good price if it is felled, cleaned and piled by the road.
And we get tips on how to produce a good shooting covert, because pheasants is another way to make money from a growing wood; advice on blending a forest with the landscape, such as not having totally straight edges; and planting flowering natives around the edges to soften the line. I'm all in favour of the last which increases the biodiversity present manyfold. Leaving a few tall trees is not recommended after a clear felling, because the tall ones prevent seedlings from growing and from growing straight.
The advice on grants available is now dated of course but the main point is that the author wanted to promote profitable forestry which added to the income of an estate and provided employment and quality timber.
Displaying 1 of 1 review