CUTTING AT XE-HA-SA-NE PARK, IX THE ADIROXDACKS 385 



sued, this will provide future crops which can be harvested with the 

 least possible cost." It may even be necessary, in order to develop a 

 market for hardwood, and thus make possible the clearing of land for 

 planting purposes, that spruce concerns become hardwood operators.'' 



CONCLUSION 



The conclusion to be drawn from these investigations is strongly 

 suggestive that the expectations of the Forester will not be realized on 

 these areas at Xe-ha-sa-ne Park. 



The hardwoods have taken advantage of the openings ; they have 

 reseeded themselves in large numbers ; the crowns of the older trees 

 have already spread out over the unused spaces, and the spruce factor 

 is dwindling with each cut. Every time that a conifer is removed, fur- 

 ther advantage is given the hardwoods, for they are left in possession 

 of the field. The young spruce which is expected to restock the forest 

 meets more and more opposition. Apparently only the free class can 

 be depended upon to fight its way through to maturity. 



The young spruce has to bear the competition of its own species ; it 

 has to meet the hardwoods, as seedlings, as saplings, and, finally, as a 

 complete canopy over the whole area, for the hardwood trees of the 

 big-diameter classes will soon make a complete cover. 



At every stage of its life the young spruce is compelled to meet over- 

 whelming odds, and if by a miracle it happens to reach the ten-inch 

 class there awaits it the forester with his axe ! 



* Chandler, B. A.: Are We Willing to Pay the Price? Xezv York Forestry, 

 Vol. V, No. I, April, 1918. 



' The Laurentide Paper Co., Ltd., Grand Mere, Quebec, is beginning to develop 

 a policy similar to this. 



