ANRA:Textbook:Forestry

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Forestry

by Daniel Clinker, member of the ANRA, apprentice at ACE

Introduction

This book outlines the way in which trees may be farmed for the production of timber, fruit and herbal components. It also explains the ways in which trees can be useful to farmers and herdsmen.

Types of Forest

This section describes the types of woodlands commonly found in southern Negaria.

The Wild Wood

Throughout Avlis there are Wild Woods and those who travel and live in these areas will be aware that crop trees are few and far between. This is because the trees are competing for light and resources. They are also subject to damage from passing creatures and from hunters and adventurers. To become productive a tree needs to be cared for and provided with the best conditions – in return it will provide not only useful items such as timber, bark and fruit but will also provide wind and sun shelter to crops and farm animals. There are two main ways in which productive forests may be grown and these will now be outlined:

The Forest Farm

This type of forest will contain not only trees but also shrubs and perennial plants that will complement each other. The forest canopy will provide protection to the smaller plants and the leaf litter will increase nutrients in the soil. The trees must be carefully husbanded by the use of pruning, thinning and new plantings in order to provide the correct amount of space and light for all the plants involved. The ANRA is keen to teach these skills so that healthy and useful trees will be grown.

The types of plants that may be grown alongside the timber-producing trees are of interest to farmers and herbalists and of use to our communities: -

• Vegetables – such as Plantain and Radishes
• Herbs – such as glowmoss, ginseng, licorice and yarrow
• Fruit – such as Apple Trees, Fenberry Bushes and Fey Grape Vines
• Hops – for the brewing of beers

The trees of Avlis that are most suitable for inclusion in the Forest Farm are: -

• The Apple Tree (certain varieties)
• The Copper Birch
• The Hickory Tree
• The Mahogany
• The Minds-Eye Tree
• The Oak or Southern Oak

Silvopasture

This type of forest has a sparser pattern of tree planting with the space in between being made available to livestock. The trees will provide wind protection and shade to the livestock reducing their susceptibility to disease and heat stress. Herdsmen who plant trees in their pastures will benefit from livestock who will thrive better and live longer.

Grazing animals, such as Avlissian Cattle, and poultry are far less likely to damage trees than are browsing animals, such as Boar, which one finds in the wild woods. To provide better nutrition for the livestock forage crops may be grown in the spaces between the trees and these will benefit greatly from the nitrogen-fixing characteristics of the trees.

Deciduous trees are best used in a silvopasture and these must be kept well under control by lopping and pruning. Fast growing trees that require plenty of light and space will be best suited and the trees of Avlis that would be recommended by the ANRA would include:

• The Apple Tree (certain varieties)
• The Avlissian Poplar
• The Ferrell Beech
• The Mehiginus Tree

The Trees of Avlis

• Apple – there will be a variety to suit every soil condition and position.
• Avlissian Poplar - best near rivers and widely spaced, as they demand light.
• Copper Birch – grow on dry land, their slender branches allow plenty of light through.
• Ferrell Beech – has rapid growth and dense leaves, which it retains dead in winter, so allows little light through.
• Hickory – a versatile tree that will grow in most soil, often found growing with oak trees.
• Mahogany / Southern Mahogany – grows well in dry and mountainous areas.
• Mehiginus – suited to river valleys, this straight-trunked tree provides valuable decorative timber.
• Minds-Eye Tree – a tall, slender tree with delicate branches that carry the attractive yellow and puce flower much prized by herbalists.
• Oak / Southern Oak – huge trees which produce knot-free timber when grown in dense thickets.