SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS. 



35 



THE STRIP SYSTEM. 



In nearly every wooded region of the United States 

 a tornado occasionally destroys tiie trees in a long and 

 narrow belt through the forest. Fire often follows 

 and clears the strip by burning up the fallen timber. 

 Seeds then fall in the opening, carried from the trees 

 on either side, the seeds germinate and grow, and the 

 reproduction of the forest takes place. 



Fig. 22.— Spruce managed under the Strip System. Southern Russia. 



When the ax takes the place of the tornado and the 

 timber is logged instead of being burned, the Strip 

 System is applied. Reproduction follows from trees 

 on either side, as before. The Strip System consists in 

 cutting long narrow openings in the mature timber 

 instead of the circular openings of the Group System, 

 to which it is similar in man}^ ways. It is simple and 

 eftective when natural reproduction is good, and well 

 suited for extensive operations in places where careful 

 1116—05 4 



