at the happy mean—neither over nor underdoing the work, the former in particular. But while overcrowding is not to be tolerated, the danger of suddenly exposing the trees to currents of air, to which they have hitherto been unaccustomed, must be carefully guarded against, and it should be distinctly borne in mind that to thin trees in an abrupt manner is one of the greatest mistakes that it is possible to make. Statistics compiled from a healthy Larch plantation, growing on fair soil, and in a moderately sheltered position in southern England, will now be given, from which a good idea can be formed as to the age and size when thinning should be commenced. The trees when planted were 2 ft. high, and pitted at 3 ft. apart. In four years the outer branches began to touch each other, and in six years from time of planting the average height of trees was 7 ft. 10 in. and the shade occasioned had killed out most of the grassy undergrowth. At this period of growth, the disproportion in the size of the trees was, as is usually the case, considerable, and left no doubt about which to remove when the first thinning took place. Two years afterwards, or in eight years from time of planting, thinning was first engaged in, the taller trees at that time averaging nearly 11 ft. in height, but many of the suppressed and weakly were little more than half that size. Another thinning took place during the twelfth year, and in 1911 the trees average 40 ft. in height and were standing at a distance of 9 ft. apart. The plantation referred to is on the Earl of Derby’s property of Holwood, in Kent. =2. To what extent should thinning be engaged in?=—In following up the latter case, the tallest and healthiest trees were reserved; all distorted, sickly, and stunted specimens being removed; but in the case of two or more proportionately small trees growing in close proximity, the most promising was left, and the others cut away, thus avoiding gaps in the plantation. At the first thinning it will be found quite impossible to leave the trees anything like regular over the ground, although this should be studied as much as possible, and bare spaces are to be carefully guarded against. With the vigorous growth of the trees, and the interlacing of branches previous to the first thinning, no great openings will require to be made, and nothing more than will be canopied over during the next two years.