Transcriber’s Notes: Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Equal signs “=” before and after a word or phrase indicate =bold= in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Deprecated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected. WEBSTER’S PRACTICAL FORESTRY A POPULAR HANDBOOK ON THE REARING AND GROWTH OF TREES FOR PROFIT OR ORNAMENT BY A. D. WEBSTER _Author of “Hardy Ornamental Flowering Trees and Shrubs” (3 Editions), “Foresters’ Diary” (15 Editions), “Hardy Coniferous Trees” (2 Editions), “Town Planting,” “Tree Wounds and Diseases,” “British Timber and Timber-Producing Trees,” etc., etc._ FIFTH EDITION ENLARGED AND REVISED LONDON WILLIAM RIDER & SON, LIMITED CATHEDRAL HOUSE, PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 4 1917 TO MY WIFE THE FIFTH EDITION OF “PRACTICAL FORESTRY” IS DEDICATED PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION To the Author at least, it is gratifying to know that four editions of _Practical Forestry_ have been sold out, and that a fifth is urgently called for; no other work on British Forestry having achieved a like popularity. The whole has now been completely revised and several important chapters added, particularly with reference to Timber and the War, British Timber and Timber Trees, Afforesting Waste Lands, and The Education of Foresters, on both of which latter questions the Author had the honour of giving evidence before the Departmental Committee on Forestry of the Board of Agriculture. A. D. WEBSTER. REGENT’S PARK, _June, 1917_. INTRODUCTION TO FIFTH EDITION In my long experience of British Forestry, which, in a practical way, has extended over a period of forty years, I have become more and more convinced that in order to place it on a systematic and sound economic footing, State aid and the afforesting of large areas of comparatively waste lands are first necessities.