10(5 FOREST commissioner's REPORT. 



cuttino- in the coldest weather when wood is brittle. On the 

 other hand they like to cut when there is deep snow. That 

 saves the little trees from destruction in felling. 



A cardinal principle of the German practice, having value 

 in this as well as in other connections, is never to clear off 

 the whole or the bulk of a stand at any onetime. This treat- 

 ment greatly helps the young trees. Comparatively few are 

 killed when but a portion of the overgrowth is taken, and 

 injuries received they have opportunity to repair. Where a 

 whole stand is cleared oft' at once little in the way of young- 

 growth will survive it. 

 Probable How far we may be able to follow the example 



changes in -J ' 



methods. g^^ ^^ ^|- j^ impossible without trial to say. Per- 

 haps it will be possible in the not distant future to leave half 

 the merchantable timber in a virgin stand for further growth. 

 Such a course would ensure a great volume growth on the 

 land ; it would allow each tree to be kept till it reaches its 

 finest development ; it would help to maintain the proportion 

 of spruce seed supply needed to keep possession of the land. 

 In the discussions in the body of this work it was taken for 

 o-ranted that such self-denial of present profit on the part of 

 business ujen could not now be expected. Encouragement to 

 think that it may soon be considered as practicable from a 

 business point of view is given by the fact that Mr. Crawford 

 in the quotations later given proposes and advocates it. 



One oreat matter that we shall have to thoroughly 

 tiition. consider is that of transportation. Some phases of 



it have importance in the present connection. The Germans 

 care so studiously for young trees that horses are seldom 

 taken into the forest, but timber is moved out to the roads by 

 hand. This we cannot do. It costs too much in our condi- 

 tions. Their idea, however, we certainly can with advantage 

 apply. Yarding with one horse it seems should largely 

 replace yarding with two. When logs aie to be used for 

 paper and can in consequence be cut into the shortest lengths 

 desired, there is no reas(m apparently why this change can- 



