In Europe, where one might suppose such a question would long ago have been settled, the proper distance to set forest trees is still a matter of dispute. If set very close they starve each other as the food necessary for one has to be shared by two; on the other hand if trees be set very wide there is too much tendency to send food into side branches and the trunk is low; a tall straight trunk is very essential to good timber. If a tree could be wholly under a primer's charge so that any very stout horizontal branches could be cut away, and the leader encouraged to grow strong and straight, there would be no question about the solitary tree having by far the best of it. But this sort of manipulation is out of the question in large forestry areas. It would not pay. The great object then should be to plant so closely that side branches will not be encouraged to any great extent, and yet not so closely that the trees will starve or smother each other.