622 DESIGNING GROUSE COVERTS AND SETTING LP MANAGEMENT PLANS 



site and of llie iiiunediately surrounding woodlands, tin- followiiif: points are worth consid- 

 ering: — 



Number and Size 



1. It is seldom necessary to devote more than 10 per cent of the total woodland area to 

 clear-cut units. 



2. A large number of small, clear-cut units is preferable to a few large ones. 



3. To save maintenance costs, both number and size of units cut should be reduced to the 

 minimum necessary to provide adequate food and cover distribution. 



Shape 



1. Since edges are desirable, wherever practical, clear-cut units should be linear (strip 

 slashings) rather than square or circular in design. 



2. Scalloped boundaries may be used to avoid cutting desirable trees and to increase 

 edges. 



3. Strip slashings should be bent from a straight line wherever an advantage is to be 

 gained, except where there is a likelihood of their being used as sight lines to facili- 

 tate the taking of a game census when desired. 



Location 



1. It is desirable to locate clear-cut areas from 1200 to 1600 feet apart or from other 

 food patches. 



2. For esthetic reasons, clear-cuttings should be located where they will not interfere 

 with the landscape value of the woodland. IS one should be placed close to a much- 

 traveled road. 



3. Where possible, they should be established to contact and lie between the maximum 

 number and variety of woodland cover types. 



4. Sites to be clear-cut should be chosen, when practicable, where the second-growth or 

 mature timber is of minor potential value. 



5. To discourage erosion, they should occupy flat or gentle slopes as against steep ones. 



6. Clear-cul units lying along, rather than across, the contours are preferable. 



7. Poorer, rather than richer soils, should be favored in locating slashings. 



8. Sites containing both damp and dry situations should be chosen where available. 



9. It is wise to locate strip slashings with relation to possible use as lines of communica- 

 tion or as fire lines in case of need. 



Cutting Cycle 



1. In New York slashings are usually in need of reculting every hn id liflccii years if 

 shrub and herb vcg<'lalion is to be maintained. The lime ela|)sing between cuts 

 varies with the fertility and moisture conditions of the site. The moister, richer lands 

 have the shorter cutting cycle. 



2. Where single units are part of a group to be cul in rotation, tlic niuiilici of units 

 present and the Iciiplh of lime necessary to produce salable wood tiiust also be con- 

 sidered in setting the culling cycle. 



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